High School Field Hockey:
Second Half Rally Pushes Crusaders into the Finals

Thursday, November 9, 2006

By Stephanie Wright
SJSports Special Correspondent

These two teams were very familiar with one another as they had met in last year's playoffs. The Bulldogs from Glassboro were looking to repeat their performance by knocking off the Lady Crusaders out of the post season tournament for the second year in a row. This evenly played first half of field hockey had to be decided during that all-important second half. The host Bishop Eustace would rally behind Leah Furey's goal midway through the half proved to be the game winner. The Crusaders, with their 3-1 victory over Glassboro, will advance to the state finals.

Glassboro advanced to the state tournament after winning the South Jersey Group I title. The Bulldogs' 2-1 victory over the Gators from Gateway set up this rematch against Bishop Eustace. As for the Crusaders, a come from behind victory against the top seeded Warriors from New Egypt rewarded them with a Central Jersey Group I championship. In that game, Bishop Eustace overcame a one goal deficit and won the game by a 2-1 margin.

Glassboro and Bishop Eustace went back and forth looking to take advantage of any weakness the defense would give them. It wasn’t until the thirteen minute mark that Ashlee Willis’ goal gave the Bulldogs the lead and an emotional advantage. The Crusaders would battle back and tie this game when Hannah Rogers redirected a shot into the cage which left both team planning a way to take the lead during halftime. This game would remain even for a while, but off of an insert, Furey nailed a shot into the back of the cage that gave the Crusaders their first lead of the game. Taylor Morganti’s goal late in the half sealed the victory for Bishop Eustace.