RFH Snaps Shore Regional’s 15-Year Streak to Win Conference Championship

By Jim Hintelmann

HAZLET – It may only be temporary, but Shore Regional High School’s domination of the Shore Conference field hockey scene came to an end Sunday at Raritan High School.
After just missing out the past two years, Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School finally achieved its goal and scored a 2-0 shutout over Shore, snapping a string of 15 straight Shore Conference championships for the Blue Devils.
The game had special meaning for Rumson coach Julie Vaccarelli, who played field hockey at Shore under coach Nancy Williams, who retired after last season. Williams was a spectator at the game.
“In my freshman year, we won our second Shore Conference title,” said Vaccarelli. “I was part of that streak for four years and it felt a little weird.”
Senior Peyton McCauley accounted for both of the Rumson goals and the Lady Bulldog defense did the rest.
“I’m so proud of my kids,” said Vaccarelli. “They worked their hearts out there today and did everything we asked of them. I couldn’t be prouder.

“Shore is a well-coached team and I knew that it would be a battle, but we came prepared,” she said. “We had a huge game defensively starting with our front line.”
McCauley scored her first goal at 8:56 in the first half off a penalty corner.
McCauley added the second goal at 19:14 in the first half on a breakaway when she got past a defender just in front of the goal and slapped it in.
“We started July 1 and worked every single day,” said McCauley. “We set a goal to win the Shore Conference Tournament and we did it. We worked so hard together on offense and defense.”
“McCauley always comes up with the big play and I’m not surprised at what she did today” said Vaccarelli. “We have a mixed team with five seniors and five freshmen.We should be ready next year.”
Both Rumson and Shore made successful debuts in the NJSIAA Tournament Monday with Rumson routing Delran 10-0 in a Central Jersey Group II Opener as Madison McGuire led the way with four goals. Shore blanked Henry Hudson 6-0 in a North Jersey Section 2 Group I opener.