By Rich Chrampanis
UNION – Last year, the Rumson-Fair Haven boys lacrosse team broke through with a Group 1 state championship by stunning Mountain Lakes in overtime. 2016 was the RFH girls turn to make history by winning a state title of their own. The Lady Bulldogs never trailed in a 14-11 win over Bernards at Kean University on Saturday to claim the Group 2 state crown.
On the turf field at Alumni Stadium, boiling temperatures gave both teams the test of weathering the elements in the biggest game of the year. “I was dying it was so hot,” senior Maggie Jennings said. “My mom brought this drink that was frozen (before the game) and now it’s just warm. It’s the perfect description of how it is.”
The key to victory was tremendous starts in both halves. Rumson was able to score three straight goals to start the game and had another three goal surge to start the second half to increase an 8-5 halftime lead to a six goal advantage. Senior Allie Geiger scored the first goal of the game and the first tally of the second half. “It was really important to start off strong.” Geiger said when asked about her early goals in each half. “It just started our momentum and you can see how it showed through the game.”
The true sign of a championship team is one that has an entire roster that contributes to the title. Anna Babiak came up with a couple of key saves in the first half and when Bernards closed the gap to 5-4, Rumson was able to close the half with three goals in a 46 second span. It started with a great shot by Maggie Jennings who went under the defender and bounced it high into the back of the goal. Morgan Steinhacker proceeded to win the draw and showed a tremendous burst of speed as she galloped to the net and scored just 13 seconds later. Jennings delivered a subtle yet brilliant flip pass to Kyra Weiner who curled around the defender and capped off the three goal outburst. It was the Bulldogs ability to turn things up a notch on three occasions that led to 3-goal runs and ultimately the difference in the game. Watching Rumson play in that extra gear had to put everyone at ease knowing that this was going to be an historic moment for the program.
In the second half, Rumson’s lead never got closer than a three goal margin. RFH came into the game with eight players with 20 or more goals so it was only fitting that the Bulldogs had two hat tricks (Weiner and Steinhacker) and three more players with two goals (Jacqueline Littleson, Geiger and Jennings). “Our teamwork brought us together. I think working together is our strong suit,” Weiner said. “It’s a great feeling to make history.”
The senior players on coach Amy O’Keefe’s team had plenty of success over the past four years with four Shore Conference championship and two sectional titles, but getting the elusive Group finals win and be just one of four teams in New Jersey to be called a state champion proves that Rumson is becoming a championship program beyond just one part of the Garden state.
“I think this program had to be in those hot spots so many times,” O’Keefe said. “Now that we’ve got this under our belt hopefully it will be a little easier next time, there won’t be so much pressure. We haven’t really been in these pressure moments that much. It was good to finally get one. Collectively, we just got it done and I’m psyched for them.”
