Rumson-Fair Haven High School has achieved its first goal of the field hockey postseason.
That goal was secured when the Bulldogs beat Shore Regional High School, 5-1, in the Shore Conference Tournament championship game on Oct. 21 at Monmouth University.
It was their fifth consecutive Shore Conference Tournament title.
Rumson-Fair Haven is a dynasty–and this latest run was characteristically dominant.
The Bulldogs defeated four opponents by a combined score of, 25-4. Their most impressive victory was an 8-0 knockout of Freehold Township High School in the Shore Conference’s quarterfinal round on Oct. 16.
Freehold Township was 11-3 going into that game. And Rumson-Fair Haven outshot this solid Patriot team, 22-1.
“That was a big thing for us, keeping the ball on our stick,” said Rumson-Fair Haven senior Bridy Molyneaux. “That will be a big factor when we play further in the tournaments.”
“We used each other and the outside-inside passes,” said Rumson-Fair Haven senior Alina Arko. “We did a really good job keeping it on our stick and keeping it moving forward.”
“We definitely had great communication, which contributed to quicker passes and lead ons, making sure to get the ball up,” added sophomore Meadow Maguire.
Maguire recorded three goals and two assists against Freehold Township. Four Bulldogs players, Arko (two), Gibby DiCenso (one), Helena Stoever (one) and Elena Werner (one), combined for the other five goals in that victory over Freehold Township on Oct. 16.
Molyneaux, Rumson-Fair Haven’s leading scorer, did not even have to score for the Bulldogs to roll. Instead, she embraced the role of playmaker and notched two assists.
Every Rumson-Fair Haven player can score and create chances, making it hard for opponents to focus on Molyneaux. This was evident throughout the Shore Conference tournament.
Five players scored in Rumson-Fair Haven’s first round victory in the tournament over Saint John Vianney High School, too. Two other players assisted on goals in that game.
“Our coach (Julie Brewington) always says to stay on the pads and on the post with our sticks down,” Maguire said. “I think from her constantly saying that to us, we finally did it.”
In using the word “finally,” Maguire was being a little tough on herself and her teammates. The Bulldogs almost always pressure the net and finish chances. They have scored 82 goals in 16 games, an average of more than five per game.
Their team chemistry and constant pressure could, like it did last year, carry the Bulldogs to an NJSIAA Group 2 tournament title. Rumson-Fair Haven certainly has its eyes on bigger trophies.
The Bulldogs did not celebrate after any of their eight goals on Oct. 16. They just calmly high fived each other and walked back to the midfield circle.
“The ultimate goal is to go all the way,” Molyneaux said.
She was not just referring to the state championship. After the group state titles are decided, the group winners will meet in the Tournament of Champions, where one overall state champion will be declared.
The Tournament of Champions was the only trophy Rumson-Fair Haven failed to win last year. The Bulldogs fell to the eventual champion, Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child in Summit, during the T of C semifinals.
“We want the T of C,” Molyneaux said. “That’s the furthest you can go and it’s a really high honor. So that’s what the goal is. But one game at a time.”
