Haddonfield surges past Collingswood in field hockey

Alex Marshall and her Haddonfield field hockey teammates have started the season the way thoroughbreds get out of the gate: fast.

Marshall, a senior forward, scored the first two goals of the game against Collingswood on Tuesday, and the host Bulldogs went on to win, 3-1, in a Colonial Conference Liberty Division game.

Marshall's first-half goals increased her total to 11 in the first five games of the season, all of which Haddonfield (5-0 overall, 5-0 division) has won.

The only blemish on the Bulldogs' record was put there Tuesday by Collingswood's Beth LeBar. The senior center midfielder ended Haddonfield's run of consecutive shutouts at four when she took a feed from sophomore left back Melissa Cunningham and slapped it past Haddonfield goaltender Sarah Meeteer 11 minutes, 57 seconds into the second half to make the score 2-1.

Haddonfield coach Lindsay Kocher has been having Meeteer, a senior, and Maura Trotman, a junior, split halves; however, Tuesday, she decided to leave the upperclassman in the game because she had faced only two shots in the first half.

In all, Collingswood's young team had five shots on goal and was outcornered, 12-3.

The Bulldogs' aggressive game, highlighted by skillful stickwork and positioning, enabled them to outshoot Collingswood, 11-5, and play most of the game in the Panthers' end of the field.

"I just think that we have to keep up the hard work and it won't just be a fast start, but will continue throughout the season," said Marshall, who also plays varsity basketball as a forward and varsity lacrosse as an attack-midfielder.

In the first half, Haddonfield outshot Collingswood, 6-2, and outcornered the visitors, 6-1.

"We needed to score a goal to boost our energy and push our intensity," LeBar said. "But then they attacked right away and kept it up and had us back on our heels."

The pressure paid off with 10:25 remaining in the game, when junior forward Carolynn Clark smacked a shot past Collingswood junior goalie Allison Hawco on an assist by junior midfielder Megan Johnston for a 3-1.

Clark said that her goal was a reward for the relentless style of play her team exhibited after being scored upon.

Kocher was pleased with the team's defensive effort against Collingswood, especially the play of junior Tara Black, who is starting for the first time at sweeper.

Collingswood   0 1 – 1

Haddonfield   2 1 – 3

Goals: C-Beth LeBar; H-Alex Marshall 2, Carolynn Clark.

Saves: C-Stephanie Fultano 4; Allison Hawco 4. H–Sarah Meeteer 3.