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Field Hockey

The Rams' Lexi Campbell, left, vies for the ball with Mendham's Izzy Pampalone during a game on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.

Freshmen spark Randolph

RANDOLPH _ Carly Snarski made the pitch to Lexi Campbell and the Randolph senior wasn't going to take no for an answer. "You have to play field hockey," said Campbell, recalling Snarski's plea. "You have to. You need to try it. It'll be fun." It didn't take long for Campbell, a freshman, to commit to the Rams' program. The two knew each other through the New Jersey Colonials Girls Ice Hockey Program and Snarski felt Campbell could easily transfer her skills from the ice to the turf. Campbell, as expected, made great strides in a few weeks and scored the…
Madison's No. 14, Caroline Blount, has the ball on her stick as Haddonfield's Julia Battino closes in.

Dodgers halted in Group I title bid

BORDENTOWN _ Sage Geyer and all of her Madison teammates wanted to get revenge and hoist the trophy at the conclusion of the Group I final. There was no joyous celebration, though. Instead, there was much sadness and many players wondering what went wrong in the wake of the Dodgers' 4-3 loss to Haddonfield on Saturday, Nov. 11. Having a two-goal lead slip away stung. So did the fact that the Dodgers' own comeback fell short. But the pain went beyond that. "The game was so, so close," said Geyer, a senior center midfielder. "We wanted the championship but that…
Madison moves into final; Colonials fall

Madison moves into final; Colonials fall

BOONTON _ Madison's Maddie Farrell hasn't chosen her college yet but she has made a critical decision regarding her short-term future and it was a difficult one. Farrell won't play field hockey after high school, opting to focus on her studies. That's why every game is so important to the senior back. Each time Farrell has taken the field since the Dodgers began their bid for sectional and group titles 10 days ago, she knows it could be her last game. Prior to Madison's Group I semifinal versus Wallkill Valley on Wednesday, Nov. 8, Farrell experienced her usual uneasiness. A…
Olivia Graham, right, controls the ball shortly before scoring Morristown's fourth goal in the North Jersey Section 1, Group IV final vs. Randolph on Friday, Nov. 3.

Morristown elated to retain title

MORRISTOWN _ Losing an important game by a wide margin is one thing. Having a standout player hurt in that same game is a dual setback. Morristown experienced the latter when it was blanked by Madison in the Morris County Tournament final and Devon Colquhoun sustained a deep gash on her left hand, just under her thumb, with 11:41 remaining in the opening half and left the game. The eight-goal defeat and Colquhoun's injury, which caused her to be sidelined for two weeks, deeply affected the Colonials, who admitted to spending some time moping. The funk got worse when Morristown…
West Morris rejoices in its 2-1 overtime victory versus Chatham on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017.

West Morris gains final with OT win

WASHINGTON TWP. (Morris) _ West Morris didn't recognize the team it faced in the North Jersey Section 1, Group III semifinals. The opposing team's jerseys were navy blue and bore white block letters that read "Chatham" but no way could it be the team the Wolfpack clashed with a week earlier on the same field. The Cougars squad West Morris faced on Tuesday, Oct. 31 was markedly different than the one they blanked, 5-0. Chatham was aggressive, driven and clearly seeking an upset. It was no coincidence that is was Halloween as the Cougars put several scares into the Wolfpack,…
Boonton moved into the sectional semifinals with a 1-0 win over rival Pequannock on Monday, Oct. 30.

Bombers trim rival Panthers

BOONTON _ Any team but Pequannock... That was the thought after fourth-seeded Boonton looked at the North Jersey Section 1, Group I bracket. The Bombers' dread was justified, stemming from past games against the Golden Panthers. It was an uncomfortable feeling to have fifth-seeded Pequannock, a fierce rival, staring down at them. Boonton, which had tied and edged the Golden Panthers earlier this season, emerged with another win on Monday, Oct. 30, nipping the Bombers, 1-0, on Nicole Krozser's second-half goal. The Bombers advance to the sectional semifinals and will travel to top-seeded Ramsey on Wednesday, Nov. 1 for a…
Madison revels in its 22nd Morris County Field Hockey Tournament title.

Madison nabs 22nd MCT title

BOONTON _ It wasn't long ago that Isabella Fragomeni was intimidated by the Madison field hockey team. Every aspect of the Dodgers' game left her in awe - their passing, high talent level, their connections, the tradition. On Sept. 19, about two weeks into the school year, Fragomeni became one of "them" when she moved to Madison from Mountain Lakes. She had the typical concerns most transfer students have: Will I fit in? Will I get any playing time? Both of those questions were answered quickly as Fragomeni, who had to sit out six practices before becoming eligible, made the…
Madison players celebrate their MCT semifinal win over Randolph on Saturday, Oct. 14.

Madison, Morristown to battle in final

BOONTON _ Madison, a team rife with injuries, didn't need one more. That's why Dodgers coach Ann Marie Davies was upset when she found standout senior sweeper Caroline Blount in the trainer's room two days before the the Morris County Tournament semifinal against Randolph. Blount, who sprained her left ankle while playing rugby in gym class, didn't want to tell Davies about the mishap so she simply stayed quiet and played hurt versus Montclair. It was unknown if Blount would play in the semifinal but she was in her familiar position and her mere presence aided in Madison's 3-1 victory…
Morristown-Beard players swarm Jenna Pych after her second-half goal versus Mount Olive on Tuesday, Oct. 3.

Pych lifts Crimson in MCT

MORRISTOWN _ The sprints and timed miles drew groans from the members of the Morristown-Beard field hockey players at recent practices. Of course, no one questioned the extra running, not with the Morris County Tournament looming. Senior center back Katie Wright actually sounded like a fan of the added endurance workouts after the fifth-seeded Crimson emerged with a hard-fought 1-0 win over 12th-seeded Mount Olive in a Morris County Tournament first-round game on Tuesday, Oct. 3. "We've been working on getting back," Wright said. "We've been doing a lot of running. This made it worth it. It was definitely worth…
Mendham coach Lori Welles chats with her team after its 5-0 win over Whippany Park on Monday, Oct. 2, 2017. In the photo below, Sarah McHugh, left, is shown in a game versus Morristown last season.

Minutemen back in top form

MENDHAM _ Mendham's shutout loss to Ridge last week certainly was a game to forget. The Minutemen lacked energy and their slick passing game and teamwork were missing. On Monday, Oct. 2, Mendham returned to top form and blanked 11th-seeded Whippany Park 5-0 in Morris County Tournament first-round action. Five players had goals for the sixth-seeded Minutemen, who notched their sixth shutout of the 2017 season. Mendham (6-2-1) raced out to a 3-0 lead in the opening half behind goals by Avery Smith, Grace Chapis and Megan McIntyre. "That was an off day," said Mendham senior defender and tri-captain Sarah…
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