CHRIS KELLY Shore Regional’s Lauren Hennessey and Rumson-Fair Haven’s Mary Schamachea chase down a loose ball during a recent game in Rumson.
For a few brief minutes, Rumson-Fair Haven threatened to challenge Shore Regional. However, those few minutes became a mirage in Shore Regional’s 4-0 Shore Conference B Central victory.
The Blue Devils girls field hockey took control of the game at the 8:06 mark, when Steph Rubert converted a pass from Amanda Arnold. Arnold weaved her way through the Bulldogs defense to penetrate the left side of the goal circle, crossing the ball towards the far post, finding Rubert for the score.
Rubert would score again 14 minutes later, this time on a pass from Lauren Hennessey. Shore continued to dominate the field in the second half, tallying another two goals.
Arnold, who had been peppering Rumson’s cage with hard-shots that barely missed all game, finally ripped one past goalie Danielle Greisbach at 48:21.
The assist for Shore’s third goal was awarded to Casey Whalen.
Whalen padded the Blue-and-White’s lead on a pass from Ali Shames-Dawson for Shore’s second goal of the second quarter.
Shore’s offense out-shot their hosts 19-2. Earning the shutout for the Blue Devils was Jen Phillips, who made two saves.
Greisbach prevented 15 shots from scoring.
The Devilettes now stand 5-0 with Keyport coming to West Long Branch for an important game on Friday. Game time is 7 p.m.
They entered the week as the top-ranked field hockey team in the Shore Conference, and face a tough schedule in the next few weeks, when they will look to extend their unbeaten streak.
Important upcoming games for the Blue Devils include Oct. 1 against fifth-ranked Middletown North and Oct. 15, when they will host an improved Middletown South squad.