The Alternative Press

WARREN, NJ - On Oct. 25, Millburn Field Hockey, 5-9-1 on the season, played Watchung Hills in the first round of a series of state matches.  “I am proud of where this team has gone and look forward to seeing where they can go," Millburn assistant head coach Sam Wiedmann said. "As long as they play Millburn Field Hockey, they can overcome any obstacle ahead. With our ten seniors leading this team, there are no limits on where this team can go.”

The first half began with Watchung Hills possessing the ball. Both teams exploded onto the field and their evenly matched skills kept the ball around the fifty-yard line for the majority of the half. Both teams had their fair share of driving the ball towards the others’ goal and, on a few occasions, succeeded in bringing the ball into the other team’s circle. The green and yellow cards began flying and before the half ended, both teams had received a number of penalties on account of not being five yards away from an opponent.

Mid-half, Allison Tanner (#32) had a breakaway that brought the ball from Millburn’s goal all the way to Watchung Hills’. However, no goal was scored. In all, Watchung Hills had three corners and Millburn had one. Millburn goalie Fiona Murphy made four great saves and Allie Rounick (#40) aided Murphy with a stick-save that narrowly missed Millburn’s goal. At the end of the first half, the score was tied at 0-0.

The second half began with Millburn in possession of the ball. Watchung Hills kept the ball close to Millburn’s goal in the beginning and put goalie, Murphy to work. Murphy made four big saves within the first 10 minutes of the game and was aided by Elizabeth Shea (#27) who had a stick-save. Watchung Hills scored at the 20:13 mark but it was quickly deemed a no-goal because it was illegally kicked into the goal. Millburn senior Whitney Thomas (#28) said confidently about the team, “We have been making direct and accurate passes, so I am sure that if we continue to do this we will be victorious.”

With seemingly renewed energy, Millburn kept Watchung Hills from scoring on two corners. Millburn’s Tanner (#32) stole the ball and after Watchung Hills got dangerously close to Millburn’s goal. This gave Millburn the opportunity to shoot on goal. However, they missed the shot and, with 10 minutes left, Watchung Hills had their fourth corner of the half. Millburn succeeded in keeping the ball out of the goal.

After a time out at the 9:35 mark, Millburn tore onto the field and had three consecutive corners. On the third corner, A Watchung Hills player stopped the ball from entering the goal with her foot, awarding Millburn a stroke. Captain Megan Weissman (#44) took the nerve-wracking stroke and scored with four and a half minutes left. For the remaining time, Millburn took the defensive and protected their goal from Watchung Hills scoring on their fifth and final corner of the half.

After a shot on Millburn’s goal at the 1:43 minute mark, Watchung Hills came dangerously close to scoring but the ball crossed the cage and went out of bounds instead. Millburn was able to keep Watchung Hills at bay and won the game. After being attacked by her joyous teammates following their win, Millburn’s goalie, senior Fiona Murphy said, “I am so proud of the team. This is the first game we played with our whole hearts and truly worked together for every ball.”

Both teams played extraordinarily hard, but Millburn’s relentless offense and impenetrable defense brought them to victory.