West Essex Field Hockey Wins 15th State Group Title

TOMS RIVER—Many players on the 2011 West Essex field hockey team have vivid memories of a post-season game this time last year.

In the 2010 Group 2 state title match, the Knights saw their hopes of a championship disappear as Bishop Eustace scored in the last 13 seconds of the game and .

For this season, the Knights wanted to reverse that outcome and take home another title for the West Essex program. And that's just what happened as West Essex defeated Camden Catholic, 4-3, on Sunday afternoon at Toms River East High School. Ironically, Camden Catholic was knocked out by Bishop Eustace last season in the sectional championship.

It was the 15th group championship in the long history of the West Essex (22-1) field hockey program, but it was the first group championship for the Knights since 2008. West Essex is tied with Eastern for second for the most career group titles, only behind Moorestown.

The Knights next play on Wednesday in the State Tournament of Champions in Robbinsville.

IN SHORT
West Essex senior Natalie Cafone passed the ball to junior Paulina Berse, who was stationed to the left of Camden Catholic goalie Isabella Dolente and tipped in what would be the game-winner with 16:30 remaining in the game.

The West Essex pressure in the first half paid off in the second half as Knights forwards Cafone, Kaylin Schwartz, Paulina Berse and Amanda Cassera would hit the back of the net.

While West Essex overall had the ball in the Camden Catholic end, the Irish took advantage of some long balls and put the Knights on their heels.

But West Essex just had too much fire power and also had a great set-up and passing that the Camden Catholic defense and keeper Isabella Dolente were no match for.

In the second half, the Knights offensive passing and strategy garnered goals from Fusco and Berse with the forward parked on the left side of the goal.

West Essex goalie Melissa Laible and the defense led by Mikayla Cimilluca contained the Camden Catholic offense especially after sophomore forward Jackie Renda was given a yellow card and the Knights were shorthanded for five minutes in the second half.

The West Essex defense kept in check the Irish's top forward, Tara Vittese, for most of the game.

KNIGHTS PLAYER OF THE GAME—NATALIE CAFONE
The senior forward is usually the last shot and scores, but on Sunday morning she set up her teammates. Cafone registered three assists, including setting up the game-winner to Berse. The senior now has 47 goals and 34 assists on the season.

OTHER KEY PERFORMANCES

Paulina Berse - The junior forward scored the game-winner off a feed from Cafone. It was only her fourth goal of the season.

Jackie Fusco - The senior forward registered a goal and assisted on the first goal of the game.

Amanda Cassera - The junior forward has made a great tandem with the other top scorer, Cafone, and gave the Knights their first goal and a 1-0 lead.

Mikayla Cimilluca - The senior left back made a stick save on a Camden Catholic forward Tara Vittese shot in the second half that helped save the game for West Essex.

Melissa Laible - The senior keeper had a great second half and made 10 saves for the game.

THEY SAID IT

"Natalie made a great pass, I was at the post and just tapped it in," said Berse about the goal that made it 4-3.

"It feels amazing and we wanted to win it for the seniors last year," said Berse.

"We wanted to win after those 13 seconds from last year," said Cafone about losing the Group 2 title last season, 2-1, after Bishop Eustace scored in the final seconds.

"We knew with the yellow card that we had to stay composed," said Cafone about being shorthanded for five minutes in the second half.

"I am so proud of the seniors. They have been so dominant and they have given so much. This is a very special class," said West Essex head coach Jill Cosse.

"I think (goalie) Melissa Laible was outstanding in the second half and made up for the first half," said Cosse.

"We (Laible) hugged and she said that she was sorry. They are so unselfish," said Cosse about her team.

"She (Cimilluca) is an awesome left back and she has done that several times. She gets very little notoriety," said Cosse about her defenseman who made a stick save in the second half that was one of the key plays to win the game.

"Natalie (Cafone) and Amanda (Cassera) are awesome and they are such a force," said Cosse about her top forwards.

UP NEXT
West Essex is the third seed in the State Tournament of Champions and takes on second-seeded Shore Regional, the Group 1 champion, on Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Robbinsville High School. If the Knights beat Shore, they will play for the STOC title on Sunday at The College of New Jersey at 11 a.m. against the winner of Freehold Borough-Eastern.