Field hockey: 'Outraged' Eastern overwhelms Shore

By Phil Anastasia

Inquirer Staff Writer

The Eastern High School field hockey team played with its standard mix of skill, speed and synchronicity on Monday.

The Vikings rolled out a new weapon, too: Indignation.

"We wanted to make a statement," Eastern senior midfielder Madison Morano said after her team's imposing 12-0 victory over Shore in the Tournament of Champions play-in game at West Windsor-Plainsboro North High School.

Senior Nikki Santore scored six goals and Morano collected two assists and played a suberb all-around game for Eastern (25-0), the Group 4 champion.

Junior MacKenzie Keegan scored two goals, junior Alexis Pettisani generated a goal and four assists and sophomore Jess Maute added two goals as Eastern overwhelmed Shore (22-5), the Group 1 champion.

Eastern coach Danyle Heilig said her team "channelled" its outrage after learning it would be the No. 4 seed in the Tournament of Champions.

Eastern is No. 1 in the nation in two rankings. The Vikings have not lost in 131 games, dating back to their final contest of the 2010 season.

"They put it to good use," Heilig said of her team's frustration at the seeding process. "They used it in a good way. I was extremely proud of my team."

Heiling played a role in the seeding situation. She is a member of the NJSIAA's field hockey committee and as the coach of a team that has won 17 state titles in a row, her voice carries a lot of weight in the room.

When the field hockey committee voted in December to use power points to seed the Tournament of Champions, Heilig was on board. She voted in favor along with seven others in a unanimous decision.

"I didn't think it would turn out this way," Heilig said. "It's almost a dysfunctional system. It's all numbers but it lacks the common-sense element."

Heilig said the NJSIAA's field hockey committee liked would "re-visit" the seeding process when it reconvenes next month.

In the meantime, the Vikings will enter Wednesday's semifinal game against top-seeded Warren Hills with the chip still on their shoulder.

"It gives us all we need to push on through," said Santore, a Rutgers recruit who jacked her  state-best goal total to 67.

Eastern played with great efficiency against Shore, using its precision passing to create openings at the offensive end and its positioning and stickwork to limit the Blue Devils' chances at the defensive end.

"The last few games, we've really been sharp," said Morano, a Penn State recruit. "We've got two games to go, hopefully Wednesday and then Friday (in the final).

"We're determinedto show we're the No. 1 team."

Shore 0 0 -- 0

Eastern 6 6 -- 12

Goals: E-Nikki Santore 6, Jess Maute 2, MacKenzie Keegan 2, Alexis Pettisani, Kasey Quicksell.

Saves: S-Sarah Dwyer, 14. E-Cassie Kincaid, 4.

-- Contact Phil Anastasia at panastasia@phillynews.com

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