BY AVERY PERSON
Sports Page Editor
After winning the regular season White Division Championship, the field hockey team kicked off the postseason by reaching the semifinal round in the GMC Tournament and earning a win in the first round of the NJSIAA Tournament against Westfield with a score of 2-1.
The team lost to South Plainfield 1-0 in the GMC Semifinals, falling one game short of playing for the GMC Championship. “I think that we did really well in the GMC tournament,” said junior goalie Erin Parrett, who was selected GMC Second Team All White-Division. “Even though we didn’t get the outcome we wanted in the semifinals, we still worked really well together preparing ourselves for the state tournament.”
In round one of the state tournament against Westfield on October 26, the girls fell behind early, but answered back with a goal by GMC First Team All White-Division sophomore Kyra Vella in the first quarter to tie it up. The two teams remained deadlocked for the remainder of regulation, sending the game to overtime.
In the extra period, sophomore Laila Vaughan scored the game-winner. “This was the first year since 2020 we have won a state game,” said Vaughan, who also notched an assist on Vella’s goal. “It felt so good to just hear all the happiness around when we won.”
The team has built a dominant run this season with their offense firing on all cylinders. “We are all proud of each other and the growth that we have gotten to experience together throughout this season,” said junior Samantha Larkin, who has scored nine goals this year. “Being able to celebrate our accomplishments and success as a team feels really rewarding.”
Sophomore Laila Vaughan scored her 100th career point against Matawan on October 10. “It felt really awesome because not many other players in the field hockey program have ever made such an accomplishment at my position, so it is an honor to get the opportunity to receive this, especially just as a sophomore,” said Vaughan, who now has 84 points this season and 132 in her young career.
The girls have done a good job creating opportunities for their teammates, scoring 70% of their goals off of assists. “It feels great to be able to set up my teammates for scoring opportunities,” said Larkin, who has five assists. “Teamwork is a really essential part to the game, and I’m proud to be a part of that success.”
Larkin ranks in the top 100 in the state for juniors. “It was a huge satisfaction to see how all the hard work I put into the off season paid off,” explained Larkin. “It felt really good to be able to represent my team,”
The defense has also dominated, forcing seven shutouts and giving up an average of just one goal a game. “It makes me happy to be able to contribute to the team, but I wouldn’t be able to do it without the help of our defense,” said Parrett, who has 123 saves.
The team looks forward to playing second-seeded Princeton tomorrow at 3:00pm and hopes to advance to the NJSIAA semifinal round. “We are mentally and physically preparing by working as a team in practice and going over basic skills in order to be successful on the field,” said Vaughan.
Posted on 10/31/23
Photos by Frank Papeo
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