Eastern rolls in field hockey playoffs
Leaning into a tight circle, the navy-and-white- clad Eastern field hockey players slammed their colorful sticks into the ground and bellowed "Eastern!" before their quarterfinal playoff game against Shawnee.
Leaning into a tight circle, the navy-and-white- clad Eastern field hockey players slammed their colorful sticks into the ground and bellowed "Eastern!" before their quarterfinal playoff game against Shawnee.
Under bright blue skies Thursday at McAleer Stadium, the top-seeded Vikings came ready to play once again.
Eastern defeated No. 9 Shawnee, 9-0, in the quarterfinals of the South Jersey Group 4 field hockey tournament.
Madison Morano opened the scoring with a goal off a corner, driving the ball from just inside the penalty arc.
Senior Nikki Santore followed up with a second goal for the Vikings, dribbling through the Renegades defense.
The senior played strong coming off a scare about her appendix that landed her in the hospital and caused her to miss a playoff game against Ocean City on Tuesday.
Morano and Santore scored back-to-back twice in the first half. In the final seconds of the period, Santore scored her third goal, assisted by Ashley Thomas.
"I thought we were working together really well," Eastern coach Danyle Heilig said. "I think we found the most success offensively and defensively when we were working together."
Dynamic sophomore Jessica Maute attacked in the second half with force, netting three goals. Santore added also added her fourth in the second half.
"I just had to listen to what Coach Heilig was telling me when I came out and I just worked on that. I just had to receive strong side help and keep my eye on it," said Maute. "We knew that this game meant something for us. We just had to be a unit and work together, and that's what we did."
Shawnee challenged the Vikings defense with several breakaways in the second half. Eastern goalie Cassidy Kincaid thwarted each attempt.
"I think that the defense just played as a unit; I think they got some opportunities when we were a little reckless and a little individual in our efforts," Heilig said. "But I think that we were stopping them earlier often when we were playing together. I'm very confident in my defensive unit."
Eastern is 20-0, but the Vikings are still pursing their biggest goals as they go for a 17th straight state championship.
"This is postseason - postseason is always different," Heilig said. "To me, this is what you work for. Our goals are obviously to finish at the top. The kids are very hungry, but we want to focus on [one game] at a time."
Shawnee 0 0 - 0
Eastern 5 4 - 9
Goals: E-Madison Morano 2; Nikki Santore 4; Jessica Maute 3.
Saves:-Elizabeth Ennis 22; E-Cassidy Kincaid 8.