West Deptford ends Schalick’s impressive run in South Jersey Group I field hockey playoffs, 2-0 in sectional final
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I
Sectional finals
South: West Deptford 2, Schalick 0
North: Shore Regional 4, Boonton 0
Group I championship
West Deptford vs. Shore, Saturday
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
WOODBURY HEIGHTS – Time ran out on the upstart Schalick field hockey team Tuesday afternoon.
The Cougars admittedly have been playing on borrowed time – or house money, if you will – in the South Jersey Group I playoffs. No one really expected them to get as far as they have. They were seeded sixth and knocked off the 2 and 3 along the way with some great playoff defense and were the highest seed to make the sectional final in the last four seasons.
But the end of the road came on the artificial turf at Gateway High School when they lost to defending state champion West Deptford 2-0 in the sectional finals.
“Nobody expected the six-seed to come to the finals and they were here,” Schalick coach Heather Cheesman said. “They played hard. It always has to come to an end. It’s always bittersweet, the end of the season.
“I don’t think we ever had any expectations. We were just taking it game by game and then once we went to the playoffs they just were on fire. They started winning, winning, winning, but, you know, all good things must come to an end.”
On paper the sectional championship looked to be an even affair. Both teams were unbeaten in their previous six games, winning the last five in a row.
But top-seeded West Deptford came out fast and stayed aggressive all game. The Eagles created 16 corners and outshot the Cougars 13-1.
“I love my defense and I’m proud we made it here, but I really just think we didn’t handle it as much as we did the other games,” Cougars goalie Lydia Gilligan said. “Offensively, I did not get as much pressure as I thought it was going to be. It was mostly on defensive pressure and wide shots.”
Both of the Eagles’ goals came in the first half and were played from the air.
Zoey Gibbons converted one of the corners into the first goal with 29.4 seconds left in the first quarter with a shot from the right side of the goal that glanced off Gilligan’s helmet. It was only the second goal the Cougars allowed in the playoffs and fourth in their unbeaten streak.
Kaylee Wonsetler made it 2-0 with 2:03 left in the first half on a shot she literally picked out of the air.
“I wish I could have jumped for that,” Gilligan said. “I should have expected that but it was straight against me and her stick was (raised high) and popped right over my head. I didn’t see it happen.”
“We have a couple girls who just have really great eye-hand coordinaton that can do it in front of the goalkeeper,” West Deptford coach Courtney Stetson said. “When Kaylee came out I said I don’t even know how you do those things sometimes.”
The Cougars (14-6-1) played better in the second half, but just couldn’t get one in the cage. They nearly got one early in the third quarter, but Caylen Taylor couldn’t turn around fast enough to get a stick on it.
“They did do better in the second half, especially that third quarter coming out,” Cheesman said. “Even the second quarter they picked it up a little bit and then the third quarter they did really well.
“After they got that second goal, we just tried to encourage them to keep their heads up. Fifteen minutes is a long time. We’ve come back from a 3-0 deficit. You can’t give up. Sometimes it just takes one to overturn the momentum.”
The Cougars were the highest seeded team to ever play in the South Jersey Group I finals since 2019. The previous high was a 4 seed. On the way to the finals they beat Bordentown (3-0), Middle Twp. (1-0) and Florence (4-1). The majority of its roster will return next season.
“Last year it was a train wreck being a freshman starter,” Gilligan said. “This year I felt a shift when the playoffs started. It happens with a lot of teams, but I really saw it with us. I felt like we had a different type of connection when it came to winning and losing in the playoffs. We just kind of understood each other a little better.
“You know, older and younger, it’s harder to get together, but I felt like we were really able to bond with our seniors, understanding this is their last year, let’s make it count. Though I wish the outcome were different, I’m proud of them, I really am. I saw a lot of improvement regards to everyone.”
West Deptford (14-3-3) will play Shore Regional (20-2) in the Group I title game Saturday at Bordentown looking for a repeat.
“Last year’s team was a surprise to everybody; they faced a dream,” Stetson said. “This year’s team, knowing what that felt like, was like we want to get back there. Everyone kind of questioned that we gave up a little too much talent, so a lot of young players had to step up and fill those shoes and they did so in such a great way.
“I think they want to prove they can do that without those girls who graduated.”
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