West Deptford Field Hockey Rides Offensive Wave to Playoff Win

If there’s been one weak point for the field hockey team, it’s their ability to close out goals and games.

After their quarterfinal win over Middle Township, the only weakness might be their scorekeeper’s ability to keep up with the offense.

West Deptford came out and dominated from end to end Tuesday, crushing the Panthers, 7-0, to lock up a semifinal berth in the South Jersey, Group 2 tournament.

“I was very happy with the way they played,” said head coach Linda Decker. “It was definitely in their ‘A’ zone.”

The Eagles rolled out to a slow start, dominating possession but not able to turn that into shots or goals, until Sydney Ponto broke through a little over 15 minutes into the first half, hammering a ball off a corner that glanced off Panthers keeper Kate Kelly and into the upper left corner of the net.

After that, West Deptford did everything but arrange some furniture and have their mail forwarded, living in the Middle Township end with little challenge.

Claudia Theriault and Rachel Krott chipped in a goal each, and Amanda Hojnowski and Brooke Brown each scored twice, but it was Krott’s efforts around the cage–she had four assists to go with her goal–that really stood out.

“She’s just a workhorse–she never quits, not three seconds of the game,” Decker said.

Krott credited a total team effort in the offensive explosion.

“We always know where we are,” she said. “We’re always getting into spots where we can help each other.”

While the offense dominated the game, there were several standout defensive plays to preserve the shutout, including a highlight-reel stop by keeper Dahlia VanDorick.

Facing a Middle Township breakaway, VanDorick made a lunging stick save on a ball at chest level, then dove to stop the rebound and at least one other shot from a flurry of action in front of the net.

The Eagles now potentially face a road game, depending on the outcome of Wednesday’s game between No. 2 Woodstown and No. 7 Lower Cape May, but Krott said the team’s still looking to improve, even on a seven-goal effort.

“That’s not the best we can play,” she said.