RUMSON – Early in 2012, Rumson-Fair Haven field hockey coach Julie Brewington was diagnosed with breast cancer at the young age of 25 and underwent a double mastectomy followed by eight weeks ofchemotherapy.
But incredibly, not only was she back on the field coaching her team by the fall, she led the Bulldogs to their first-ever sectional title in program history in what felt like a classic fairy-tale-like ending.
Once she regained her strength and was healthy enough to resume coaching, Brewington used it as a healing tool just being able to go to practice and be around the girls.
“I never thought twice about coaching again because I knew in the long run it would help me to feel normal and be in that environment I love to be in,” Brewington said of her quick return to coaching. “I do think it was part of my healing process.
“And to be honest, I think it was really being able to come back and coach and the support of the whole community, especially my players, parents, and assistant coaches that made the whole process a lot easier on me. It made me so much stronger and able to bounce back when I had all of that there for me and so much to look forward to,” she continued.
Brewington grew up in Oceanport and played under legendary Shore Regional field hockey coach Nancy Williams, earning first-team All-Shore honors and a scholarship to Rider University.
“Nancy continues to be so supportive of me,” said Brewington of her relationship with Williams. “She constantly texts me and after the SCT win this year, she stayed after and complimented the girls. She’s always there to give me advice and hear me vent because she knows what it’s all about and is one of my biggest supporters so I’m really lucky to have her.
“Probably the best thing I picked up from her is just how important mental toughness is and how it can get you through not only moments on the field but in life, so I have to thank her for that.”
In 2007 while at Rider, Brewington was named to the Northeast Conference All-Tournament team when she helped Rider advance to the championship game. That same year, she led the NEC with seven defensive saves as a midfielder and was a second-team All-NEC selection.
Two years later in 2010, she took over a Rumson-Fair Haven field hockey program that had never won a sectional title and transformed it into one of the elite field hockey programs in the state.
In her first year, the Bulldogs went 11-6-1 and qualified for the North 2, Group 2 playoffs as a seventh seed and upset fourth-seeded Matawan, 4-0, in the first round before falling to No. 2 seed Bernards, 2-0, in the second round.
A year later, they went 14-5-1 and advanced to the North 2, Group 2 final as the third seed before losing to top-seeded Johnson in the championship game.
Then in 2012, with Brewington still in the midst of a remarkable recovery from breast cancer, the Bulldogs won 20 games for the first time in program history and were awarded the No. 1 seed in the NJSIAA North 2, Group II bracket, beating second-seeded Madison, 3-0, for their first-ever sectional title.
“That was such a special team,” Brewington said. “I do think they had some extra motivation and just that whole season was so special. Since then every October they get so excited to wear their pink socks to kind of honor that.”
They then made their first-ever trip to group tournament qualifying for the NJSIAA Group II Tournament where they fell, 4-3, to West Essex in a hard-fought semifinal match.
Two years later in 2014, after winning the Central Jersey Group II title by crushing Robbinsville, 8-0, the Bulldogs won the program’s first-ever group title when they beat Madison, 3-2, in the championship game.
In the Tournament of Champions that year as a fourth seed, Rumson beat fifth-seeded Shore, 5-0, in the quarterfinal round before falling to top-seeded and eventual champion Eastern in the semifinals.
Also in 2014, the Bulldogs dethroned defending Shore Conference Tournament champion Shore Regional after an unprecedented 15-year run as SCT champions.
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“That first win was so special, we had an amazing group of girls,” said Brewington of the Bulldogs’ first SCT title. “That was their goal and they really wanted it after being in the final two years prior. I think they were just ready – it was their time. They were prepared both mentally and physically so that was super special for them and the program. It was an interesting feeling for me too, because I had played at Shore Regional for four of that string of 15 SCT championships.”
Since then, the Bulldogs have gone on to win five straight Shore Conference Tournament championships, including this year’s 5-1 win over Shore Regional.
Since 2012, Brewington has led the Bulldogs to five sectional championships, five SCT titles and two group titles, including last year when the Bulldogs beat Seneca, 2-0, to capture the NJSIAA Group II championship and advancing into the Tournament of Champions.
“I’ve been just really lucky to work with such amazing girls,” said Brewington when asked what her secret to success is. “They know what it takes at this point having had those players to watch and emulate. I’ve also been so lucky to have strong leadership throughout the years and I think without that it’s hard to get very far.”
The Bulldogs enter this year’s postseason as the defending NJSIAA Group II and North 2, Group II champions after taking home both titles last season.
In the Tournament of Champions a year ago after receiving a first-round bye as the third seed, the Bulldogs fell to second-seeded and eventual champion Oak Hill, 2-1.
After winning 21 games and sectional and group titles last year the Bulldogs finished ranked No. 3 in the state in the final NJ.com Top 20.
Brewington’s career record at Rumson stands at 187-28-7 with the Tournament of Champions title being the only missing link to her resume.
“I think we have a really talented group and they’re just tireless in their effort and they just work so hard,” said Brewington when asked if this year’s team might break through and get that T.O.C. championship. “So I think anything’s possible but we’re up against incredible competition. I think in our section and our group we probably have some of the toughest competition in the state leading up to the T.O.C. so it’s a tough road.”
On Friday, the Bulldogs won their third straight sectional title beating Bernards – ranked right behind Rumson at No. 6 in the state – 1-0, in a grueling battle between two of the top teams in the state for the NJSIAA North 2, Group II championship.
“I feel like this year, more than any that I can remember, that this was probably the toughest road we’ve had in our section,” Brewington said. “There were just so many talented teams and each of them were the strongest they’ve been in a while. So it was definitely a tough road for us and it felt extra special to be able to pull off that victory.”
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