Staff Report
A field hockey team without a good goalie is like a Corvette with square wheels — you’re not going to get very far.
The past three years, Clearview Regional hasn’t had to worry about much in front of the cage, as Marissa Buck blossomed into one of the best goalies in the state. She played in just one game as a freshman, registering one save. There was no real indication of what she would turn out to be, but as a sophomore she went about proving she belonged among the elite of South Jersey goalies.
She had 200 saves in 23 games that year, leading the Pioneers to sectional and state championships. Clearview was just 12-6 entering the state playoffs, but then ripped off five straight postseason victories. During that stretch, Buck allowed just four goals. The phrase “the buck stops here” began to take on new meaning in Mullica Township.
She had nine saves and allowed just two goals in a 3-2 win over North Hunterdon in the Group 3 state championship game, a harbinger of things to come. As a junior, Buck saved another 200 shots, led the Pioneers to another state championship and allowed four goals again in the state tournament.
Last fall, Clearview AGAIN won the state championship, going 22-3, including 5-0 again in states. This time, Buck must have been mad because she allowed just two goals instead of four.
So, to recap — Clearview won 15 straight state playoff games and three state titles once Buck became the full-time goalie, and she allowed just 10 playoff goals in three years. That’s what you call getting the job done.
— Staff Writer Dave O’Sullivan
