SOUTHERN REGIONAL TOPS JACKSON MEMORIAL IN TOUGH A SOUTH BATTLE

 

SOUTHERN REGIONAL TOPS JACKSON MEMORIAL IN TOUGH A SOUTH BATTLE

By Casey Krish

MANAHAWKIN – Throughout the opening weeks of the season, both Southern Regional and Jackson Memorial have established themselves as legitimate threats in the field hockey scene. With both clubs residing in the Shore Conference A South division, it was only a matter of time before these two heavyweight programs would battle it out on the same pitch of grass.

In the first meeting of 2019, it was Southern (7-1-0) who made a statement on their home field, defeating Jackson Memorial, 4-1. Senior midfielder Maitland Demand scored a pair of goals, including her first of the contest midway through the second half, which would prove to be the game winner. Emily Raylman assisted both of her fellow senior’s goals.

From the opening whistle, Jackson Memorial (5-1-1) raced out of the gate and had the Rams back on their heels seemingly the first five minutes. Despite the sustained pressure and relentless push towards the cage, the Jaguars were unable to record an official shot.

The adversity faced in the opening minutes might have been exactly what the Rams needed, as they went on to control the possession for a majority of the contest; keeping the ball in the Jaguars’ end while unleashing a suffocating pressure that frustrated the visitors every time the ball found their stick.

“Our goal is never give up,” Southern Regional head coach Jenna Lombardo said. “Even when we were down, 2-0, against Shore Regional (a 2-1 loss on Sept. 14), these girls never gave up. That was a time where some teams might pack it in and settle for a defeat, but this group keeps battling to the end.”

The game remained scoreless through 19 minutes before Kate O’Boyle collected a short rebound in front of the cage and swiftly poked home a shot past the sprawling keeper. The goal – her second of the season – gave the Rams first blood.

Erika Barbera was given an assist on the play and now has 15 points.

The goal was the first surrendered by the Jaguars in what was now their seventh contest of the season. Not only did Southern have the lead on the scoreboard, but they now forced Jackson Memorial into uncharted waters – playing from behind.

“Jackson is such an outstanding defensive team,” Lombardo said. “One of the key focal points entering this matchup was to sustain pressure and try and get that first goal to perhaps put them out of their rhythm. Our girls did a nice job at executing that plan.”

With the new challenge of an uphill climb on the scoreboard, the Jaguars continued to try and apply pressure. Early in the second half, their efforts were finally rewarded.

Senior forward Claudia DiStaso crashed the net and was able to poke home her fourth goal of the year on a play set up by junior Sydney Walter. The goal would be the only shot for Jackson Memorial in the game.

With new life having been jolted into a Jaguars team that had been chasing the ball around for a majority of the morning, Southern called a timeout with just under 20 minutes to play. The stoppage seemed to be a reset for a Southern squad that could have easily been ahead had some bounces around the goal line gone their way.

“These girls were a force the entire game. I told them when they had the lead to keep playing their game,” Lombardo said. “It is very difficult to play 60 minutes of great field hockey and that is what they did today.”

With 14:27 to play in the final half, Demand slipped her first goal of the game into the open cage and put the Rams up for good. The senior would cap the scoring with just over three minutes to play, bringing her season total up to 13 to go along with six helpers. It ended a stretch of three goals for the Rams in an 11:16 span.

Barbera, who was given an assist on O’Boyle’s goal in the first half, scored Southern’s third goal with just under seven minutes remaining.

Despite surrendering four goals to a high-octane offense, Jackson Memorial goalkeeper Mildred Trembley shined in between the pipes – stopping 11 shots fired at her. The effort comes just two days after Trembley recorded a 12-save shutout at Toms River South.

Southern, a program rich in history, has challenged themselves throughout the early goings of the young season, playing the likes of Shore Regional and Wall Township. They also have battled a respectable group of opponents in their own division, but that doesn’t allow for any excuses should this team ever find itself not acquiring results.

“This year we have some of the best senior leadership that this program has ever had. These girls know how to keep the rest of the team up and keep their heads in the right spot at all times,” Lombardo credited to the veterans in the program. “We are mentally tough, and the coaching staff here has so much respect for every single girl in this program.”

The Rams schedule will feature some familiar faces as the calendar flips to October. After facing Brick Memorial on Monday, Southern will embark on another journey through A South. Should the Rams win over Brick Memorial, all seven opponents will have a chip on their shoulder the second time through the schedule.

“We play this tough out-of-conference schedule to get a chance to play against some top-tier opponents. That gets us more ready to play than picking up games against teams that we know we should beat,” Lombardo said. “There is so much confidence among the girls. They work so well together and know that there are 10 other players on the field ready to have their backs.”

Jackson Memorial will play their next three games at home looking to bounce back from a difficult defeat.

These clubs will take face each other again on Friday, Sept. 27 in Jackson.

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