The field hockey team has been working tirelessly to make these past two months to make this season a fairytale. Their hard work and intensity during practice has certainly shown in their wins: their current record is 18-1-1. With new players standing out as well as returners stepping up, the team has shown great improvement since last year.
The team was ranked second in their county seeding, right behind the traditionally powerhouse team Bridgewater, who has won the last nine Somerset County Tournament titles. This year, however, the team won the county tournament 1-0 against Bridgewater on Saturday, October 21st at Mount St. Mary’s High School. This was the first time the team has won since 1989. NJ.com predicted the team to lose 4-2 in the county finals, but the girls held off Bridgewater 0-0 for the entire game until they went into overtime, where Meghen Hengerer assisted the ball to Sarah Iaione in a corner with 2:38 remaining in overtime. Afterwards, the entire team stormed the field and celebrated the win. “The team held our own during game regulation. We regrouped well during our timeouts and we constantly kept supporting one another,” said Junior Sarah Iaione. “During overtime, we executed every corner very well because we were calm. It was a game I won’t forget for the rest of my life.”
Head coach Sarah Falzarano said, “This season is different than other seasons in a few ways. We have a very young team. Most of our starters are Juniors, so they will have another year to play together. We also have girls that have played together for quite a long time, which helps on and off the field. They know each other’s style of play and didn’t take much time adjusting on the field.” Newcomers and twins Meghen and Lilly have been forces to be reckoned with this year, with Lily (forward) scoring 18 goals and 15 assists this season, and Meghen (midfielder) scoring 15 goals and 10 assists. “Meghen and Lilly came onto the team and fit in beautifully – like they had been here from the beginning!” said Falzarano.
This year also marked a big game for Sarah Falzarano, more specifically, her 200th win. On October 17th, the girls beat Delaware Valley 2-1 in a tough grass game, making them undefeated division champs. She said, “The best part of coaching this team is the girls. They keep me laughing every day, and I am so lucky to have such a relaxed, hard working group.“ Sarah’s family came and celebrated her 200th with her, and the team celebrated with cupcakes and sparkling cider.
Senior, Captain, and top scorer Lily Simon said, “This season is so different from past seasons because the team is so positive and loves each other so much! We all get along well on and off the field and work really hard while still having fun.” Simon, who has been a part of the program since she was a freshman, has had an incredibly successful season, racking up 21 goals throughout the season. So far, the team has scored 93 goals, more than the amount of goals scored in their 2015 and 2016 seasons combined.
Another standout player of the team is goalkeeper Missy Connolly. With 51 saves this season, she has remained tough in the cage all season long.
Because of their recent county win, the team is now ranked #12 in the state. The team now is focusing on the Group 2 State Tournament, where they will look to keep the winning streak alive.
