By Jim Hintelmann
WEST LONG BRANCH – For the third straight year, rivals Rumson-Fair Haven Regional and Shore Regional met in the finals of the Shore Conference Field Hockey Tournament and, unfortunately for Shore, the result was the same.
The Lady Bulldogs put on a defensive clinic Sunday, holding Shore to just one shot on goal and that was enough to make sophomore Elena Werners’ lone goal of the game stand up in a 1-0 victory.
It was the third straight SC championship for the Lady Bulldogs, but this one was something special for Rumson coach Julia Brewington, now in her seventh year as head field hockey coach,
“This one was special because we made history and were the only other team besides Shore to win three titles in a row,” said Brewington. “The girls earned every bit of this. They worked hard all season and this was one of our goals.”
Werner scored the only goal in the game eight minutes into the first half off a deflection of a shot by Grace Jamin.
“It was a shot from the top of the goal and this is what we go for,” said Werner. “We want to work hard for a deflection and get it in.
“This was amazing,” she said. “I didn’t play in this game last year and was just happy to be there, but this year I was happy to get the chance to start. Shore is a big rival for us and it was great to be able to beat them.”
WEST LONG BRANCH – For the third straight year, rivals Rumson-Fair Haven Regional and Shore Regional met in the finals of the Shore Conference Field Hockey Tournament and, unfortunately for Shore, the result was the same.
The Lady Bulldogs put on a defensive clinic Sunday, holding Shore to just one shot on goal and that was enough to make sophomore Elena Werners’ lone goal of the game stand up in a 1-0 victory.
It was the third straight SC championship for the Lady Bulldogs, but this one was something special for Rumson coach Julia Brewington, now in her seventh year as head field hockey coach,
“This one was special because we made history and were the only other team besides Shore to win three titles in a row,” said Brewington. “The girls earned every bit of this. They worked hard all season and this was one of our goals.”
Werner scored the only goal in the game eight minutes into the first half off a deflection of a shot by Grace Jamin.
“It was a shot from the top of the goal and this is what we go for,” said Werner. “We want to work hard for a deflection and get it in.
“This was amazing,” she said. “I didn’t play in this game last year and was just happy to be there, but this year I was happy to get the chance to start. Shore is a big rival for us and it was great to be able to beat them.”
“Elena has been working very hard to getting to be at the right place at the right time and she was there today,” said Brewington.
“All the credit goes to these girls,” she said. “They brought into what we were trying to do and were inspired by some of our former players. They have a lot of pride and want to keep the tradition going.”
“All the credit goes to these girls,” she said. “They brought into what we were trying to do and were inspired by some of our former players. They have a lot of pride and want to keep the tradition going.”
Rumson senior goalie Alexandra DeVito had an easy time in the goal, having to make just one save.
“I’ve been playing goalie since I was in the sixth grade,” said Devito. “This is my third year of varsity. This is surreal and it was crazy watching all this happen. I’m so happy to be a part of this team. I hope to be playing field hockey at Hobart College in New York next season.”
“I’ve been playing goalie since I was in the sixth grade,” said Devito. “This is my third year of varsity. This is surreal and it was crazy watching all this happen. I’m so happy to be a part of this team. I hope to be playing field hockey at Hobart College in New York next season.”
“We didn’t play bad by any means.” Said Shore coach Kelly Koenig. “Rumson has a strong defensive pressure and beat us in our first game of the season. My core defenders and goalie (Molly Santi) hung tough in some difficult situations that we put them in, but they fought themselves out of it.”
Santi had a solid game in the nets with eight saves and made several diving stops to keep the score close.
“We’re playing in Central Jersey Group II,” said Brewington. “Wall is the team to beat and we’re the second seed. We have a pretty young team and many of our players are juniors.
“It was a little hairy at times,” she admitted, “but the team came together and controlled the clock in the last four minutes.”
Rumson’s lone loss this year was 3-2 to state power Moorestown in the first game of the season. Both of Shore’s setbacks this year were to Rumson (18-1), which has won 17 in a row. Shore (19-1-1) had a 20-game unbeaten streak before losing Sunday. While Rumson has won three straight SC titles titles, it will have a long way to go order to catch Shore, which has won 19 titles, two of them co-championships. Shore also has won three straight SC titles five times.
Santi had a solid game in the nets with eight saves and made several diving stops to keep the score close.
“We’re playing in Central Jersey Group II,” said Brewington. “Wall is the team to beat and we’re the second seed. We have a pretty young team and many of our players are juniors.
“It was a little hairy at times,” she admitted, “but the team came together and controlled the clock in the last four minutes.”
Rumson’s lone loss this year was 3-2 to state power Moorestown in the first game of the season. Both of Shore’s setbacks this year were to Rumson (18-1), which has won 17 in a row. Shore (19-1-1) had a 20-game unbeaten streak before losing Sunday. While Rumson has won three straight SC titles titles, it will have a long way to go order to catch Shore, which has won 19 titles, two of them co-championships. Shore also has won three straight SC titles five times.
