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Field Hockey

WM ousts Chatham; No. 1 Madison next

WM ousts Chatham; No. 1 Madison next

BOONTON _ When West Morris claimed its last Morris County Field Hockey Tournament title in 2019, Lexi Buchanan was in the midst of the on-field celebration. Buchanan was 8 years old then and enjoyed every millisecond of the revelry - the shouting, the hugging, the proud smiles - while standing in the midst of it. The experience stuck with her. On Saturday, Oct. 26, Buchanan, now 14 and a freshman wearing the West Morris colors of Columbia blue, navy and white, registered the decisive goal in overtime to lift the Wolfpack over three-time defending champion Chatham, 3-2, in a MCT…
Tania Zeb, left, celebrated her 18th birthday and Boonton's sectional semifinal victory on Saturday,Nov. 4, 2023.

Bombers land berth in sectional final

BOONTON _ Nervous energy was evident when Boonton played Madison in its bid to secure a share of the NJAC-Liberty Division title. Flying high but a bit on edge, the Bombers edged out the Dodgers to ensure they'd split top honors in the conference. On Saturday, Nov. 4, Boonton went into its North Jersey Group I semifinal with even more energy and replaced its jitters with a mega dose of confidence and the result was a 2-0 shutout of Mountain Lakes. The goals, off of corners, were scored by Jocelyn Martinez and Ani Myers in the second quarter less than…
Chatham's celebration commenced after Emmy Chazen scored off a corner with no time left.

Chazen tallies gamewinner for Chatham in MCT

 BOONTON _ Chatham's Emmy Chazen barked out instructions before inserting the ball off a corner play with no time remaining in the Morris County Field Hockey Tournament Final. Get your sticks down. Nothing goes out of the circle. Be scrappy. We got this. The Cougars heeded the senior defender's instructions and readied themselves to capitalize on the corner, their eighth of the game. Chazen was right on when she assured her teammates of success. Chazen sent the ball in and Keira McManus took a shot. Chazen, positioned on the left post, noticed "a wide-open goal and ripped it in," boosting…
Madison's Anna Stuart is in control of the ball during a MCT semifinal versus Boonton.

MCT final will match Chatham, Madison

BOONTON _ Stung by two 1-0 losses to Boonton, the Madison field hockey team scrutinzed what had occurred in those games. Dodgers coach Sarah Morano and her staff noticed a few details that required change and went to work intent on closing those gaps. The adjustments had a major impact in Madison's 4-1 win over top-seeded Boonton in a Morris County Field Hockey Tournament semifinal on Sunday, Oct. 15. The upset propelled the fourth-seeded Dodgers into the MCT title game opposite No. 3 Chatham, which blanked 10th-seeded Morristown-Beard, 3-0, in the other semifinal. "We worked on finishing our shots and…
Lila Maggio of Boonton, right, chases down a loose ball during a game versus Mountain Lakes.

Triumphant Bombers have great expectations

MOUNTAIN LAKES _ Senior center midfielder Lila Maggio sensed early on where Boonton's season likely was headed and gave a somewhat bold prediction after the Bombers' 1-0 shutout over Mountain Lakes on Tuesday, Sept. 19. "I definitely think we'll have a good run," Maggio said. "I expect us to go far in the counties and the states. We're still young. It means a lot for the younger girls to have a year of experience under their belts." That seasoning has made a significant difference and helped Boonton improve to 4-0 with its triumph over the Lakers. Five more wins followed…
Madison's attack pressured Rumson-Fair Haven in its sectional semifinal for the entire game, taking 19 shots on goal.

Madison moves into semifinals

MADISON _ The desire to score was evident with each pass and with each stop. Madison pressed and pressed, bringing the ball into the circle and close to the goalcage for much of its North Jersey, Group II quarterfinal against Rumson-Fair Haven. It became more frenetic in the fourth quarter  as the Dodgers took corner after corner. Junior center forward Ally Brosie put an end to the tension, connecting with authority from the right side with 10:11 remaining to lift Madison to a 1-0 win over RFH, whose goalie, Amanda Gettings, and defense were unwilling to yield. "It was a…
DiBiase, Chatham make it two in a row

DiBiase, Chatham make it two in a row

BOONTON _ A long 40 days passed before Chatham's Brooke DiBiase had the opportunity to redeem herself. DiBiase wanted another chance at a penalty stroke. Badly. The image of the ball going wide left in the Cougars' opener versus Bernards stayed with her. Imagine how DiBiase felt before and after stepping to the stroke line 6:30 into the third quarter of the Morris County Tournament Field Hockey final on Tuesday, Oct. 18. A little queasy? Definitely. That uneasiness quickly turned to confidence and determination then, ultimately, to elation when DiBiase, a senior forward, lifted the ball into the left side…
Chatham was euphoric after topping Randolph, 1-0, in a MCT semifinal on Oct. 15, 2022.

Cougars will get second shot at Mtn. Lakes

BOONTON _ Natalie Duke's goal, the fourth of her career, had an abundance of meaning behind it. First of all, it was the gamewinner against Randolph in a Morris County Field Hockey Tournament semifinal on Saturday, Oct. 15, and propelled Chatham into the title game. It also was a reminder that the defending champion Cougars remain a force to be reckoned with. "This whole team is working so hard," said Duke, who connected off a corner 5:49 into the fourth quarter. "It felt good to finish and to show that. Everyone did something. Everyone. We got the word out there.…
Mountain Lakes' Kaylin Oey, left, chases down the ball as Boonton's Jackie Martinez closes in.

Unbeaten Lakers are enjoying the ride

BOONTON _ Mountain Lakes' Melina Penniston's AP course load leads to sleep deprivation and, sometimes, the senior center midfielder is flatout punchy. Penniston, though, always finds the energy to play field hockey and is an integral part of the Lakers' attack. On Saturday, Sept. 17, Penniston was a force on attack, helping Mountain Lakes to a 2-1 victory over Boonton. Immediately after sophomore forward Kaylin Oey scored the goal with 2:54 remaining in the third quarter, Penniston and Oey engaged in what has become a ritual, using their sticks as hobby horses and riding in a circle. "We began doing…
Chatham players gather for a selfie after their MCT final win over West Morris on Tuesday, Oct. 19.

Cougars repel Rams for MCT title

BOONTON _ Chatham's defense made it all look so easy. Tasked with having to protect their goal line against 19 corner attempts by top-seeded Randolph, the Cougars stopped an incredible 18 of them in the Morris County Tournament Field Hockey final on Tuesday, Oct. 19. The Rams often swarmed the circle yet third-seeded Chatham was steely and resistant, sending the ball out all but once. Mia Sciacchitano snapped a 1-1 deadlock with 6:16 remaining to seal the Cougars' 2-1 victory and earn them their first MCT championship in 11 years. "This is amazing," said Sciacchitano, a sophomore right wing, of…
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