Collingswood Field Hockey Wins First Title Since 2004

Collingswood keeper Becca Hall was buried under her teammates in the overturned cage before she’d even realized what had just happened:

With her four-save effort after overtime and two goals from the LaMania twins, Krista and Shauna, the Panthers had found redemption from a year ago and claimed the Central Jersey, Group 1 title in penalty strokes, 2-1, over Haddon Heights.

“It’s a great win,” Hall said. “We haven’t had one in years, so it’s good to get a big win.”

Though not a fan of the format, Hall was at her sharpest in strokes after the teams deadlocked at 2-2 through 80 minutes of play, making a lunging stick save to deny the Garnets’ Emma Sheehan to open the session, then kicking away a pair of weak shots to lock up the victory after both LaMania sisters found the back of the cage.

It was a 180 from a year ago, when the Panthers lost in strokes after a 2-2 tie with Camden Catholic.

This time, the tears were joyful.

“It’s really great to do it as seniors,” said Krista LaMania, her voice breaking. “The whole team was working together. We did it for all the years before that we haven’t come out on top—we really pushed this year and made it happen.”

It wasn’t an easy victory in the sectional final, either.

Collingswood appeared to have it locked up late, following Krista LaMania’s scoring blast off a corner with just under six minutes to go, but Haddon Heights managed perhaps the most improbable end to regulation, when Jacqui Rosati scored off a corner with no time on the clock.

It wasn’t the way Collingswood wanted to end the game—they didn’t want to see Rachel Galante’s early goal go to waste, and the players said they came out with renewed determination in the seven-on-seven overtime.

“We fought back hard,” Shauna LaMania said. “We brought everybody up—they were really down after that goal. We got our team all the way to the top and we played our hearts out until the end.”

Of course, there were visions of that nightmare scenario a year ago against Camden Catholic running through their heads, when the Irish blew up the storyline the Panthers had for their 100th anniversary season.

“We just turned the outcome around this year,” Krista LaMania said. “We’ve been through a hard season this year—we knew we could bring it back.”

Of course, it was still up to her and her sister to come through in strokes, after Garnets keeper Maresa Malcolm made 14 saves—including on a penalty stroke in the second overtime that could’ve been the game-winner—to deny the Panthers through 80 minutes.

After Krista LaMania whipped in the first stroke, Shauna stepped to the line with the score tied 1-1.

“I was just thinking, ‘I’m putting everything into this,’ because I know how it felt to lose, and it was not good,” she said. “I was hoping for the best and had my team behind me.”

She had been on that line a year ago, and was one of two players to score in strokes against Camden Catholic, so there was some confidence there.

“I’ve been there before—last year—so it was really nerve-wracking,” Shauna LaMania said. “I knew the mentality and how to trick out the goalie.”

When her shot smacked the back of the cage, the Panthers erupted, as though they knew it would be the clincher.

Three saves later, Hall made sure it was, and the celebration of Collingswood’s first sectional title since 2004 was on.

Now the Panthers will have a shot at the state Group 1 title, a road that starts with a game against South Jersey champ Pitman on Thursday.

“We’re ready—we’re definitely ready,” Krista LaMania said. “This pumped us up a lot for it—we’re going to come out strong.”

For pictures from the championship game, check out Collingswood Field Hockey Beats Haddon Heights [Photos]