Freeberg Lifts West Deptford Field Hockey in OT

It wasn't supposed to be this hard.

Facing a team they'd demolished in the regular season, West Deptford's field hockey players found themselves hurling three games' worth of offense at No. 2 seed Woodstown, only to get a pile of zeroes on the scoreboard in return.

Woodstown's Chardae Booker chewed up shots and spit out frustration for the Eagles, who might've wanted to check to see if the Wolverines' keeper was made of brick by the end of regulation.

But 71 minutes into the game, with penalty strokes looming more and more likely, West Deptford finally found a hole in the wall, as Jade Freeberg connected on a rebound to send the Eagles to the 1-0 win and end a four-year title drought.

“We were so close every time—it just felt amazing to get it in,” Freeberg said. “I didn't really think it was going in. Once I heard it hit, I just started screaming.”

For pictures of the game, check out West Deptford Field Hockey Wins South Jersey Title [Photos]

The game-winner came on West Deptford's 27t h shot of the game, a stat not lost on coach Linda Decker, who was as frustrated as her players, watching save after save.

“Their goalie absolutely kept them in the game,” Decker said. “She was amazing—she was pressured so much...she never gave up.”

It was especially frustrating on penalty corners, Freeberg said, as both Booker and the Woodstown defense rose up to stop the Eagles every time.

“We just didn't know what to do any more on our corners,” she said. “It was very frustrating.”

But it wasn't just Booker's performance in the net that kept Woodstown in it—the Wolverines battled throughout, and made several runs at both the end of the first and second halves that could've left West Deptford on the losing side of the ledger.

“I'm not going to lie, I came in underestimating them,” Freeberg said. “I thought it was going to be an easy game in the beginning, but then once I saw how they were pulling through, I realized we were going to have to step it up.”

Decker credited the Wolverines for making strides since the 4-0 drubbing West Deptford delivered back on Sept. 20.

“We didn't expect to see the team we saw today,” she said. “Woodstown really played us tough—I was so impressed with the development they've had throughout this year. They came out to play a good game, and they did.”

The Eagles, for their part, had to make strides of their own—the team replaced nine starters from a year ago, and Decker said she wasn't sure what would come of the season.

“For us to come this far, let alone win the championship, is absolutely huge,” she said. “It's thrilling—there's no question about it.”

West Deptford now moves on to the state Group 2 tournament, and will likely play Wall in the semifinals Thursday, at a location still to be determined.

For now, though, they'll savor this win.

“It was amazing—the best feeling of my life,” Freeberg said.