A Camden Catholic era winds down

The low sun sent long shadows across Camden Catholic's smooth turf as Tara Vittese stood on her home field for the last time in her career.

"It stinks that my high school career is ending," Vittese said. "I wish I could go back and relive every day."

Vittese made the most of one of her final days in a Camden Catholic field hockey uniform during Wednesday's Non-Public South quarterfinal against Red Bank Catholic.

Vittese scored four goals and led the Irish to a 6-0 victory over the Caseys on an unseasonably warm, sun-splashed afternoon.

Alyssa Olenick and Carolyn Kane added goals as fourth-seeded Camden Catholic (15-4) advanced to face top-seeded St. Joseph of Hammonton in Friday's semifinals.

"We've got to try to keep it going," Vittese said. "If we can beat St. Joe's, we'll probably get [Bishop] Eustace and we've got to try to win that one. We want to keep going strong."

Although the Irish will battle to extend their season, it's inevitable that one of the great careers in South Jersey field hockey is coming to an end.

Vittese's four goals Wednesday gave her 166 for her career. That's sixth on the all-time national scoring list, although it's also fourth in South Jersey history, behind Eastern junior Austyn Cuneo (209 and counting), Florence graduate Lexi Smith (191), and Eastern graduate Kelsey Mitchell (171).

Vittese's final game also will mark the end of a remarkable era in Camden Catholic field hockey. She has followed older sisters Michelle and Carissa through the halls of the high school on Cuthbert Boulevard as well as on the slick turf field.

"Ten years of Vitteses," said Camden Catholic coach Mark Vittese, the girls' father. "Next year will be different."

Tara Vittese said she decided in the last three weeks to continue her education at the University of Virginia. She will be the third sister to play for the Cavaliers, too.

"I have an attachment to UVA for a long time," said Vittese, a top student who also seriously considered Maryland and Princeton.

She knows that in some ways, her career is just beginning to take shape. She has her college days ahead of her, and she has aspirations to emulate her sister Michelle, a 2012 Olympian, and make the U.S. national team.

But Tara Vittese is down to her final days as a member of the Irish team that she has followed for years.

"All we can do is play as hard as we can and try to keep it going," said Vittese, who lives in Cherry Hill.

At 5-foot-9, with a long reach and uncanny stick control, Vittese has been one of the best field hockey players in South Jersey history. One prominent coach has compared her to a top-level foreign athlete because of her size, skill, and feel for the sport.

Vittese said she takes pride in her scoring but also likes to get her teammates involved.

"I like to be known as a complete player," Vittese said.

She wasted little time in making her mark Wednesday. She scored the game's first goal after just 119 seconds and had a hat trick with more than nine minutes left in the first half.

Camden Catholic dominated the game, generating 27 corners to three for fifth-seeded Red Bank Catholic.

But Vittese knows the games will continue to get tougher and tougher, even as the days get shorter and shorter.

"It flew by," Vittese said of her high school career. "I just want to fight hard and try to keep it going."

Red Bank Catholic 0 0 – 0

Camden Catholic 4 2 – 6

Goals: CC-Tara Vittese 4, Alyssa Olenick, Carolyn Kane.