Bucs on the bubble as playoff deadline looms

BY VIN RAPOLLA
Staff Writer

Above, Red Bank’s Abby Doherty, Melissa Hochman and Kristen Degenhart form a wall to help goalie Tiffany Kaszuba defend a penalty stroke during a game with Freehold Borough on Oct. 6 in Freehold. Below, Kaszuba clears the ball with a kick. Coming into this week’s action, the Red Bank Regional field hockey team held their postseason fate in their own hands.

The Bucs entered the week one game below the .500 mark, a mark they needed to reach by Thursday to qualify for the Shore Conference Tournament.

With a decisive 3-1 victory over Colts Neck on Monday the team looked to be on the right path, with just one game to go before the deadline against Neptune scheduled for yesterday.

JEFF GRANIT staff “We beat Neptune earlier in the season, 1-0,” said third-year head coach Kim Homefield. “This time we’re playing them at [their] home, which is very tough, because they have a slow, thick field.”

However, with the weather wreaking havoc on the schedule this week, Homefield realized there was a good chance the game would be rained out, thus assuring the Bucs of a berth in the SCT. And that is something she would be very proud of.

“Last year we didn’t make the SCT, which was disappointing,” said Homefield. “I would have also liked a bigger cushion at this point, but we’re very happy with where we’re at.”

This year’s team returned a total of 15 seniors to the roster, many of whom are starters. Leading the team in scoring is a first-year starter, junior Blaike Ford, who has been accompanied by senior Alex Campanella, senior Brittany Loucks, junior Melissa Hochman and senior Brittany Lenz.

Homefield has also been very happy with the play of another junior and first-year starter, Tiffany Kaszuba, as well as junior Leigh Stambaugh, and standout first-year varsity starter and captain Abby Doherty.

“These girls have recently stepped up, and I’m really happy with their play,” said Homefield. “Abby has been the team’s surprise; she’s really stepped it up.”

With the postseason approaching quickly for the team, Homefield and her squad look to focus on the positives that have gotten them to this point thus far. She is very happy with her team’s depth and hustle, along with their ability to play together.

The coach believes that if the team can manage to finish in the circle and capitalize on its scoring opportunities, the Bucs may have a chance to contend with most of the teams in the league.

“I know this team is capable of playing at a high level of play,” said Homefield. “There’s definitely a possibility to make a run. We’re going to come to play and be ready to go.”

Notes ... It’s been a great year all around for the local field hockey teams, as all six local teams are heading to the postseason with high aspirations.

The Ocean Township Spartans are poised to clinch the A North division with a win or a tie against Middletown North, whenever they’re able to play that game. The Spartans are 7-0-3 on the year and already own a win over the Lions.

RBC is another team poised to claim a divisional crown. The unbeaten Caseys (9-0) were scheduled to take on rival St. John Vianney earlier this week, but can wrap up the A Central title with one more win or a tie.

Rumson-Fair Haven is the top dog in the Class B Central division — a spot annually reserved for the Shore Regional Blue Devils. The Bulldogs entered the week at 10-1-1 (8-1) in the division, while Shore Regional, who lost to RFH 5-0 earlier this year, is 8-1 (7-1 in the division), and avenged that loss to RFH with a 1-0 win over the Bulldogs last Wednesday. If both teams win out the rest of the way, they will share the division title.

That leaves Monmouth Regional, who, at 6-5-1 entering the week, is in the middle of the pack in Class B North but is playing well as the postseason approaches.

All of the local teams will be anxious to see the results of the Shore Conference Tournament seeding meeting, which will be held tonight. Teams must have a .500 record by the end of play today to qualify.

First-round games will be held Monday, with second-round games split between Wednesday and Thursday. The quarterfinals are set for Oct. 24, with the semifinals on Oct. 26 and the finals on Oct. 28 at Raritan High School.

Ocean Township is expected to be the top seed, followed by RBC, Freehold Borough, Toms River North and Shore. Middletown North is the likely sixth seed.