METUCHEN, NJ- The Arthur L. Johnson High School Crusaders varsity field hockey team knew a daunting task was on hand, when they went up against a Metuchen High School Bulldogs offense that produced 82 goals on the season, along with an 18-0 record as they took the field. Once the game started, Johnson and Metuchen went right at it.
As Metuchen received the ball, they sped their way to sides of the field, which meant for Johnson, who allowed 26 goals, needed to match and counter their opponent on various parts.
“By slowing them down, we were able to give our other defenders time to come down and pressure the ball,” Johnson junior defender Jordyn Walsh said. “The more we slowed them down, the more of a chance we had of stopping it near the circle.”
In the end, Johnson’s defensive push and locking down really proved to be a presence on the field and Walsh and the others rose to the occasion as the fourth-seeded Crusaders defeated the top-seeded Bulldogs 2-0 in the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1 Semifinals Wednesday afternoon in Metuchen.
The Johnson Crusaders (14-4-2) advance to the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1 Finals, the first time the program reached a finals round since 2011. They will travel to play at second-seeded Shore HS Friday afternoon at 5:00 p.m.
Johnson lost the semifinals round the past two seasons, but are excited about a chance at playing at least one more game, after having practiced and worked as hard as ever since field hockey camp opened in August for the teams to begin summer practices.
Arthur L. Johnson High School senior co-captain Amanda Zambrana credits her team’s hard work on coming close to the finals the past two years worth it with the finals coming up. Photo Credit: Daniel Collins
Arthur L. Johnson High School senior co-captains Kaylee Parkhill and Alyssa Colicchio (left and right) say coming together as a team and putting in work all-year long has them ready to go Friday afternoon. Photo Credit: Daniel Collins“We played for all four years for a moment like this, to play in the finals, to prove our work all-year round,” Johnson senior co-captain Alyssa Colicchio said. “People on our team play all-year round, waiting for this moment. It feels great and it hasn’t happened since 2011. We’re here to win.”
“The fact that we had redemption this year, for the past two years, it’s been [the semifinals where it’s all ended],” Johnson senior co-captain Kaylee Parkhill said. “We’ve always been in this place where we feel kind of stuck because [Shore] is such a powerful team. Having Metuchen as our opportunity for the semifinals, it was an opportunity that we needed.”
“We have been working so hard this season,” Johnson senior co-captain Amanda Zambrana said. “It feels amazing to get to the sectional finals, especially after coming so close the last two seasons.”
With the final seconds ticking off the clock and a trip to the finals in place, Johnson is ready to get after it. A goal that was set from the start is now in place and a chance to improve before the big game commences.
“It’s been out goal all year. We obviously are in a very tough county, so this is our big shot,” Johnson head coach Katrina Poskay said. “We’ve been close in the last couple of years and the further you get into the state tournament, everyone [making it far] is having a great year.”
For most of the first period, everything was going back-and-forth between the two teams. All it took to initially break the stalemate was a misread on a shot and a ball trickling into the net.
Junior Emma Hilton fired away a shot on net that at first, appeared to be saved, but trickled through the legs of Metuchen goaltender Kamryn Chaudry and reached the back of the net at 18:03 of the first half, giving Johnson the 1-0 lead with her 14th goal of the season.
Arthur L. Johnson High School junior Emma Hilton (#1) fired away a shot that trickled to the net at 18:03 of the first half, giving Johnson a 1-0 lead. Photo Credit: Daniel CollinsIt would be the score once halftime approached.
“I was shocked as everyone as soon as they blew the whistle [indicating the goal], to be honest,” Hilton said. “I think it gave us the boost that we needed to push through because it was a little rough in the beginning.”
As the second half started, Johnson locked down on defense and at times, appeared close to adding to their lead, but the shots were falling wide of the net and then it was back to the standards of the defense. The Bulldogs received two corners in a short span in key moments of the second half, but the Johnson defense stood tall and cleared all the chances out of play.
Alyssa Colicchio, one of the three captains, was one of the players who helped to put the game away with an offensive push that fell just short on their chances all day. After a scramble in the Metuchen zone and with chances thrown on net, Colicchio banked home the insurance goal, her 14th goal of the season at 21:36 of the second half, extending Johnson’s advantage to 2-0.
Johnson head coach Katrina Poskay talks to her players after the win. This is the first sectional final appearance for Johnson since 2011. Photo Credit: Daniel Collins
The Johnson Crusaders locked down on defense, not really allowing a major amount of opportunities for the Metuchen High School Bulldogs in a 2-0 win in the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 2, Group 1 Semifinals Wednesday afternoon in Metuchen. Photo Credit: Daniel CollinsWith the crowd of parents cheering on, Colicchio’s goal gave Johnson a cushion and one they would not sleep on as they pushed towards the rest of the second half and into the final minutes.
“We’re trying to have a good time [preparing to go at it on Friday],” Poskay said of her team after the game.
