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Schools

West Deptford Hockey Rolling Along In Playoffs

The Eagles defeated Lower Cape May, 5-0, to advance to the Group 2 finals against Haddonfield.

No matter what the level or what the sport, a team aims to be playing at its best when the playoffs roll around. Being at peak performance at the right time is something everyone strides for, but only a certain few teams truly achieve it.

After two playoff games it is abundantly clear that the field hockey team is playing its best hockey of the season at the perfect time.

The No. 3 Eagles again overwhelmed an opponent, this time No. 7 Lower Cape May, in a 5-0 win in the NJSIAA South Jersey, Group 2 semifinals.

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West Deptford has now outscored its postseason opponents 12-0.

“I am thrilled with the way everyone played today, absolutely thrilled,” said West Deptford head coach Linda Decker. “Maybe there were two girls who weren’t on their A game, but they were on their B-plus game and everyone else was on their A game. I think they looked great.”

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The Eagles faced a Lower Cape May team that upended No. 2 Woodstown in penalty strokes, thanks to the standout play of Rebecca Holden. Holden showed off her skills early against the Eagles, stopping the first seven shots that came her way. West Deptford finally solved the Lower keeper when Brooke Brown crashed the cage and slapped a shot past her with 11 minutes, 35 seconds left in the first half.

“The goalie was really good at stopping shots from the top of the circle, but once we got the initial shot on and it bounced back, we got the rebounds,” Brown said. “That was her soft spot.”

Amanda Hojnowski then helped put the Eagles in firm control, scoring goals with 3:07 and 1:10 left.

“It’s really just that first goal,” said Brown. “If we get that first goal, we are on fire. We just keep sending them in, and it feels really good the way we are scoring.”

The Eagles kept rolling in the second half as Rachel Krott found the back of the cage and Brown added her second goal. Dahlia VanDorick had seven saves for the shutout.

If there is any one player who symbolizes the type of improvement the Eagles have shown over the last two weeks it has been Brown, who has come on to score four goals during the playoffs.

“(This) is what I have expected from her for a long time and now it’s here,” said Decker. “I’m really excited for her and for the team. She just looks great.”

Decker said Brown’s vast improvement has been the result of a mental change.

“I think there has been a focus,” Decker said. “Whatever has happened, I don’t know, but she seems much more focused on what’s going on right now, and I think that’s it. She has always been an awesome player, but I think she has really taken it to the next level the last couple of games.”

Now the Eagles get to face a familiar opponent in Haddonfield, which defeated Buena, 7-1. The Bulldawgs went 2-0 in the regular-season series and claimed the Colonial Conference Liberty Division title. Both games were tight, though, with Haddonfield winning 2-0 and 2-1.

“We have to come out and try to get the first goal, and then play the best as we can,” said Hojnowski. 

The Eagles will certainly enter the game a confident bunch, knowing they are playing at their best at the perfect time.

“Now that we got past these first two games, I think we are going to go all the way,” said Brown. “We have the determination, we have the motivation and we are ready.”

“It’s going to be a great game,” said Hojnowski. “This is what we have practiced for, and this is the game our heart is set to win.”

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