Shawnee surges past Washington Twp.

Shawnee's Marissa Cutry is only a sophomore, but the field hockey back showed nerves of steel in a huge Olympic Conference interdivisional clash with host Washington Township on Wednesday.

Cutry, a second-year starter, snapped a 2-2 deadlock by scoring on a penalty stroke with 1 minute, 35 seconds remaining in the first half.

The Renegades (5-1), ranked No. 3 in South Jersey by The Inquirer, scored twice more in the second half and defeated No. 2 Township, 5-2, in a big early-season test for both teams.

"I was not nervous because we have been practicing nonstop," Cutry said about the stroke. "My plan was to go left low, hit it as hard as I could.

"This is a very big win."

It was made sweeter by the Renegades' ability to overcome a 2-0 deficit in a big game. Also, five players scored, demonstrating a balanced attack.

"Cutry is a good defender with a good stroke," Shawnee coach Renee Phelps said. "She's very confident, although she's a sophomore. We knew that she could get the job done."

Township jumped to an early lead on goals by junior Megan Tiernan and senior Lindsey Hatch. As the Minutemaids celebrated with 19:37 left in the first half, Phelps called a timeout.

"We needed to regroup," Phelps said. "We needed to take a breath and realize what was going on."

What was going on was a relentless attack by Township while Shawnee fell back on its heels. Once the Renegades answered with a swift attack and crafty stickwork, Becky Stiles and Nicole Troost scored to tie the game, 2-2.

In the second half, Shawnee continued to attack, enabling Emily Arnot and Victoria Radwell to score the team's fourth and fifth goals and put the game away.

Shawnee outshot Township, 23-15, and outcornered the hosts, 16-11.

"They responded to the two goals the way a good team should, and once they went, we couldn't stay with them," Township coach Jeannine O'Connor said.

Shawnee   3 2 – 5

Washington Township   2 0 – 2

Goals: S-Becky Stiles, Nicole Troost, Marissa Cutry, Emily Arnot, Victoria Radwell; WT–Megan Tiernan, Lindsey Hatch.

Saves: S–Elina Pereira 10; WT–Chelsea Holland 8, Brianne Waters 7.