RFH Edges Shore

777

Break Comes on McKenna Maguire’s Goal

By Jim Hintelmann
RUMSON – Regardless of the sport, games matching two outstanding teams sometimes don’t live up the advance hype, but the wasn’t the case in Saturday’s field hockey game between state powers Rumson-Fair Haven
Regional and top rival Shore.
Rumson, ranked No. 2 in the state in one media poll, scored a dramatic 3-2 victory on McKenna Maguire’s goal off of a penalty corner after time had expired.
The penalty corner was called with 30 seconds left in regulation time and the score tied at 2-2.
Madison Maguire, McKenna’s sister, slapped a shot that was deflected off the pads of Shore goalie Sarah Dwyer, but the ball went right to McKenna, who knocked in the winning goal from five yards out.
The clock had already reached zero but, in penalty corners, play is allowed to continue until completed.
“My coaches always tell me to be ready to score, “ said McKenna. “When the ball trickled in, I was jumping for joy. I really wanted to win this game and it was awesome.”
“The play was for Madison to take the shot,” said Rumson coach Mary Beth Brewington. “The ball went off the goalie’s pads, but we still made something of a play that didn’t go as planned.”

RFH’s Madison Maguire (21) had a goal and an assist during Saturday’s dramatic 3-2 win against Shore Regional at Two River Times Field at Borden Stadium. Maguire has committed to the University of Maryland. Photo: Sean Simmons
RFH’s Madison Maguire (21) had a goal and an assist during
Saturday’s dramatic 3-2 win against Shore Regional at Two River Times Field at Borden Stadium. Maguire has committed to the University of Maryland. Photo: Sean Simmons

Rumson got off to a quick start in the first half on goals by Madison Maguire and Bridy Molyneau. But Shore came back to tie the game early in the second half on goals from Maggie Lamb and Annie Deusch.
“We just got a little complacent,” said Brewington. “I knew that Shore would come back, but the girls didn’t let it bother them and I was proud of the way they finished it.”
“We made a few adjustments at halftime,” said Shore coach
Kelly Koenig. “We had opportunities inside the circle but couldn’t score. We just broke down defensively in the final two minutes.”
It was a strange game in that it was scheduled before Labor Day, especially between two of the state’s top teams.
“It was early in the season,” Koenig admitted, “but I saw a lot of things that I like and some that we need work on. A game like this will allow us to see where we can and make adjustments for the season.”
“I really wanted to come up with the win, “ said Madison Maguire, who will be playing field hockey at Maryland next year. “Now we can look forward to the rest of the season.”
The two teams played in the finals of the Shore Conference tournament last year with Rumson winning and snapping a string of 15 Shore championships.