Two of the highest scoring field hockey teams in region play to scoreless tie in regulation, then Schalick gets game-winner on rebound in OT, hands Salem first loss, Cheesman 100th win
THURSDAY’S RESULTS
FIELD HOCKEY
Pennsville 8, Deptford 0
Schalick 1, Salem 0 (OT)
Woodstown at Gloucester Catholic, ppd.
GIRLS SOCCER
Clayton 5, Penns Grove 0
Highland Regional 1, Woodstown 0
GIRLS TENNIS
Woodstown 5, OLMA 0
Vineland 3, Schalick 2
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
SALEM – Heather Cheesman couldn’t tell you her Schalick field hockey team’s record in overtime games or even if they were going to play one Thursday as regulation was winding down, so when the Cougars went to extra time she came up with the fastest strategy that came to mind.
Put the players who had been playing the best in the game and just have at it.
What is it they say? The first instinct is usually the right one? After the teams played to a spirited scoreless tie in regulation, Phoebe Alward banged home a doorstep rebound just over two minutes into sudden death overtime giving the Cougars a 1-0 victory over Salem and handing Cheesman her 100th career victory.
It was the first overtime game either team has played this season, a testament to their dominance over their opponents this year. The Cougars (6-2) had played three previously since the sport went to a four-quarters format in 2020 and were 1-1-1 in those games.
“I put our most skilled players in, they weren’t actually our most skilled, but they were the kids who were playing really well today,” Cheesman said. “I think our team is very skilled, but I picked the girls who were having a good game today and then we took it from there.”
With only 10 extra minutes to get something done, you have to be aggressive and the Cougars were. They never gave the Rams a chance.
“That’s the way I am,” Cheesman said. “I said if we win the toss to get possession; we want to start off with the ball. We have to beat them to the ball. Once we get in the circle we’ve got to shoot and we’ve got to get a stick on it.”
The goal came just that way. Caylan Taylor sent a ball to Ava Scurry who had gotten well behind the defense. Scurry broke in alone on the goal, Salem keeper Dominique Lewis stood her ground and made the initial save with her pads, but the rebound came right to Alward and she sent it back into the cage for her county-leading 10th goal of the year.
It took all of 2 minutes and 3 seconds of sudden death.
Both teams are among the most prolific-scoring squads in the region, but curiously they couldn’t put one home in regulation. That’s not to say they didn’t have chances on the windy, blustery day. The action was end-to-end and both goalies were excellent in keeping their opponent out of the net.
Schalick finished with 14 shots and 12 penalty corners. Salem had 11 shots and 11 corners. Cougars keeper Lydia Gilligan made 12 saves and got help from defensive stops by Hanna Widdifield and Ella Cheesman. Lewis has 14 saves.
The one that got through was only the second goal the Rams (5-1) have allowed this season. They’d outscored their first five opponents 33-1.
“I think we were pretty evenly matched,” first-year Salem coach Shanna Scott said. “We were capitalizing on their weaknesses and they were capitalizing on ours.
“Our goalie played great. This is the best she’s played.”
Reaching the milestone victory was special for Cheesman. She’s been coaching at Schalick 10 years and reached the mark in her eighth season as head coach.
“It was amazing,” she said. “It helped me reflect on all the athletes present and previously who played for me (and) all the triumphs and heartbreaks we experienced as a team.”
It’s been a good 24 hours of overtime experience in the Cheesman household. The night before her daughter Emmi scored the game-winner for her Cedar Crest College team in a penalty-stroke shootout.
“I watched it, they stream everything; it was exciting,” Heather said. “Now I’m going to have to call her and be like, ‘We went to overtime.’”
PENNSVILLE 8, DEPTFORD 0: Sophia Marandola had a hat trick and Isabelle Saulin had two goals and an assist as the Eagles (2-6) won their second straight.
Girls tennis
WOODSTOWN 5, OLMA 0: Gabby Kurpis prevailed in a third-set tiebreaker 10-2 to win at No. 2 singles and complete the undefeated Wolverines’ sweep. The Wolverines (9-0) have won each of their last five matches 5-0.
VINELAND 3, SCHALICK 2: Once-beaten Vineland (12-1) snapped the Cougars’ six-match winning streak. No. 3 singles Allyson Green and the No. 1 doubles team of Katelyn Little and Emma Adams won matches for Schalick (9-2).
Riverview Sports News 