NJSIAA Sectional win for Devils

By Walter J. O’Neill, Jr
Add another state sectional title to the record book of the Shore Regional High School field hockey program. With a stunning 7-0 victory over South Hunterdon the Blue Devils won the NJSIAA North 2, Group 1 sectional tournament.

Shore entered the tournament as the top seed and outscored their opponents 22-0 in capturing the title. They had a bye in round one, and then crushed New Egypt 8-0 in the quarterfinals.

Jessica Welch had three goals and two assists in the victory. Annie Deusch had two goals while Julianne Hurley, Vikki LaMorte and Lauren Maul each had a goal. Getting one assist in the win over New Egypt was Abby Kopec.

In the semifinals the Blue Devils defeated Johnson, fifth seed. This time Welch had four goals and two assists, Deusch had one goal and three assists, Maul had one goal and one assist, while Kelsey O’Neill finished with a goal.

South Hunterdon was the sixth seed who faced the Devils in the finals. Leading the Devils in this game was Deusch and Maul who both had two goals. Deusch also had two assists in the victory. Adding single goals were Welch, LaMorte and O’Neill. Kopec had three assists and Welch had one.

It was a one-sided victory as Shore outshot South Hunterdon 50-2. In the goal for Shore was senior Sarah Dwyer, who only had to make one save.

The sectional title came one week after losing a heartbreaker to Rumson-Fair Haven 1-0 in the Shore Conference Tournament. Currently the Blue Devils are ranked 11 in the top 20 teams.

RFH received the two seed in the NJSIAA Central Group 2 bracket. They suffered a 1-0 loss to Wall Township in the finals.

Up next for the Devils is the Group 1 state tournament. Shore will face Newton on November 11, while Haddonfield takes on Woodstown.