Ocean City reloads in field hockey under Terry

How does an Ocean City field hockey team that lost its entire defense to graduation record 12 shutouts in its first 15 games the following year?

Coach Cory Terry has the answer.

"Our forward and midfield lines are so strong that they have taken some pressure off the defense," said Terry, who has replaced legendary coach Trish LeFever at the helm. "Another reason for our success is that our team has come together so well. Multiple girls are scoring."

One of those girls is Mackenzie Lindquist, a first-year varsity starter who is primarily a lacrosse player. The senior forward has blossomed into one of the leading scorers on a team (15-0) that has returned with only two true varsity starters from last year's Group 3 state-championship squad: Jenn Staab and Liz Cruz.

In her first year of heading a proud program with a winning tradition, Terry and her assistants, Tracey LeFever and Catherine McGowan, have gotten all the new varsity players on the same page with Staab, an all-South Jersey midfielder last season, and Cruz, a junior forward.

None of this happened without preparation. Terry entered the program as a volunteer JV coach when the seniors were freshmen. She helped most of them develop their skills, so that when it was their turn to play varsity, they were ready.

"Regardless of what the program has accomplished, it was way more intimidating replacing Trish LeFever," said Terry, a sixth-grade science teacher.

"But I also am a competitor, not settling for anything less than all you can give. I try to convey that to my girls. This team has made my role so much easier because they enjoy playing hockey together."

The Red Raiders' defense got lucky in one respect. Alie Stever transferred in from Mount St. Joseph in Flourtown, Pa. A right back for the Magic for two years, Stever was converted to center back by Terry and has meshed well with her offensive counterpart.

"Alie and Jen Staab have been playing well off each other," Terry said. "As a center back, she can distribute the ball. Alie can be an offensive threat while playing defense."

Staab, at center mid, quarterbacks the team and is one of its top scorers.

Stever is joined on defense by left back Danielle Palantino and right back M.J. White, both seniors. Senior Sami Beradis comes in as a sweeper. All are in front of first-time varsity goalkeeper Katie Johnson, a sophomore.

Knowing her personnel is one thing. Knowing how to use the players is another for Terry, who gets good reviews by fellow Ocean City coaches as well as players.

A big reason for the support she receives is that she played the game at a high level. A midfielder at Princeton for four years, Terry played center mid for Ocean City, from which she graduated in 2000. Her name was Picketts then, and she was part of state-championship teams in her sophomore, junior and senior years under LeFever.

"She won everything [awards] you could win that year," Trish LeFever said about Terry's senior year at Ocean City. "She was a powerful shooter and scored quite a few goals.

"I recommended her for the job because she has a wealth of knowledge, understands the game, is great with the players, and her work ethic. She is the perfect fit for our program."

Tracey LeFever, daughter of Trish LeFever, said Terry gives the program continuity with the past, in which Ocean City won seven state titles.

Staab and Lindquist use the same word to describe Terry's approach to the game: "fun." Both are motivated by the new head coach as well as the successes of the past. And both are part of the reason why an inexperienced defense is working so well.