Field hockey: Eastern beats Moorestown in T of C semifinals

The message has been on the back of the warm-up shirts.

It also has been front and center on the field.

The Eastern field hockey team's mission this season has been to return to the title game of the Tournament of Champions and bring the trophy back to Voorhees.

"We're coming for the T of C title," Eastern senior Olivia Perrone said after the Vikings beat Moorestown, 6-2, in the
Tournament of Champions semifinals Wednesday night at Rancocas Valley High School.

Perrone scored two goals, sophomore Amanda Middleman generated a hat trick and sophomore Kara Heck added a goal and two assists for Eastern (24-0-1), the top seed.

The Vikings also got strong work from sophomore goalie Nina Santore.

Eastern will face rival Oak Knoll (24-0-1), the No. 2 seed, in the Tournament of Champions title game Friday night at Kean University.

Oak Knoll beat Rumson-Fair Haven, 5-1, in Wednesday's other semifinal.

Eastern and Oak Knoll tied, 2-2, on Sept. 16, creating the only blemish on both teams' record.

"We've changed a lot since then but I imagine they have, too," Eastern coach Danyle Heilig said.

Eastern has won 19 consecutive Group 4 state titles and seven Tournament of Champions title since the event began in 2006. The Vikings had won four in a row before losing to West Essex in the title game last year.

That was the inspiration for the logo on the back of the team's warm-up shirts: "Setbacks are Setups for Comebacks."

"That's been our whole focus all year," Perrone said. "Yeah, we wanted to win a state title. But our goal has been to win
the T of C title."

Said Heilig: "That was a setback for us. This year has been about getting back there. Whatever happens Friday, I'm proud of the way these girls have played."

Eastern fought off a strong challenge from Moorestown (18-4), the Group 3 state champion and No. 5 seed.

The Quakers jumped to a 1-0 lead on a goal by junior Delaney Lawler, Heilig's niece.

"It's hard to play against a team that plays with so much emotion and so much energy," Heilig said of Moorestown. "I knew they would come out like that. I was hoping we could outlast that."

Perrone got the Vikings' even at 1-1 with a blast and Middleman made it 2-1 with a goal on a deflection with eight minutes left before halftime.

Eastern made it 3-1 on Perrone's reverse chip early in the second half but junior Avery Powell pulled Moorestown within 3-2 with a penalty stroke.

"I couldn't be prouder of these girls," Moorestown coach Ali Collins said. "There was no quit. They played 60 complete
minutes."

Eastern pulled away in the game's final eight minutes as Heck delivered a goal and two assists and Middleman added her final two goals.

"They're just relentless," Collins said of Eastern. "They know how to win, they don't quit and they have that killer
instinct."

Moorestown 1 1 — 2

Eastern 2 4 — 6

Goals: M-Delaney Lawler, Avery Powell; E-Amanda Middleman 3, Olivia Perrone 2, Kara Heck.

Saves: M-Lauren Pickul, 7; E-Nina Santore, 5.