Staff Report
It’s early in the high school field hockey season, but so far Hammonton looks like the team to beat in the Cape-Atlantic League.
The defending league champion has yet to allow a goal this season, opening the 2024 campaign with five straight wins while outscoring opponents 28-0. That’s been good enough to land the Blue Devils in this week’s state top-20, as Hammonton came in at No. 19 in the nj.com poll.
Only St. Joseph Academy, their in-town rival, has been able to hang with the Blue Devils, as the Wildcats made Hammonton work for a 3-0 victory on Monday. No other team has gotten within five goals of Hammonton.
And it’s not a one-girl show in the land of blueberries, as the Devils have had nine players record at least a goal or an assist. Senior Emma Longo and junior Gabriella Teti have six goals each while junior Gabrielle Childs and sophomore Jenna Vivadelli have each added four. Senior goalie Kelley Crescenzo has 13 saves and has yet to allow one into the cage.
STILL UNBEATEN
There are two other undefeated teams in the CAL, as Millville has won its first five games and Holy Spirit, under new head coach Kylie Mitchell, is off to a 3-0 start. Like Hammonton, the Spartans have spread the wealth, as seven different players have scored. They’re also incorporating teamwork, as nine of the 15 goals Spirit has scored this season have been assisted.
Spirit will face a tough challenge today as it goes on the road to take on St. Joseph Academy. The Wildcats are entering a tough stretch that includes Holy Spirit, Ocean City on Monday and then Hammonton again in early October.
SLOW START
Kingsway Regional might be the No. 2 team in the state, but the Dragons currently are looking up at Washington Township in the Tri-County Conference Royal Division standings Mostly that’s because the Dragons have only played two games so far, while Township is 4-0-1 overall and 2-0 in the division.
But it’s not about winning a division title for Kingsway, as the Dragons have aspirations of a state championship. They’ll face some tough obstacles to get them ready, as this weekend they’ll take on two out-of-state teams at the Max Field Hockey tournament in Pennsylvania, and later this season Kingsway tackles Camden Catholic, Oak Knoll, Point Pleasant Boro, North Hunterdon and West Essex. It’s one of the more aggressive schedules in South Jersey.
