By BRIAN TORTELLA
Correspondent
On X @tortreports
BORDENTOWN — The Kingsway Regional High field hockey team found itself in a familiar position on Saturday, falling behind Montclair 1-0 in the second quarter.
That didn’t faze Erin Callahan, though.
Going for her third state championship in a row — something unprecedented for the Kingsway field hockey program — the senior was determined to make history.
“We weren’t going to get down on ourselves by getting down a goal,” Callahan said. “We knew we had to focus on our play and play our game and show our heart. It all came down to who wanted the game more, so we knew that it was very possible for us to come back and win that game.”
The comeback, and the “Three-Peat” was executed.
Callahan’s game-winning goal edged state-ranked No. 4 Kingsway past No. 5 Montclair, 2-1, in the NJSIAA Group 4 state championship at Bordentown Regional High.
“I’m so proud of my team after this whole season,” the Maryland commit said. “Our team has had such a crazy season. There was so much adversity. We lost a couple of games, but it honestly just came down to this game. How we played was phenomenal. It really showed our heart, our grit, and how much we wanted to win.”
Playing a daunting schedule this season that featured top teams in the state such as Camden Catholic and West Essex, along with four out-of-state opponents, Kingsway was more than prepared to make a run at another title despite entering the playoffs with a 12-7 record.
“It was everything,” coach Dana Ott of playing elite opponents. “I know going through it was frustrating for our whole entire program. I know that the kids were frustrated. We took every loss as a lesson, and that’s all you can do. We’re not losing, we’re learning. I don’t think we really saw that until our playoff play and our playoff run and how awesome that was for us, and how dominant we were.”
Grace Hunter tied the game up for Kingsway (15-7, 8-0 Tri-County Royal) on a strike from distance with five minutes left in the first half. The senior concludes her career with 39 goals.
“It’s indescribable,” she said. “There are no words to describe what we just went through. It’s just the best feeling ever. We put our soul into that game. We put our everything into that game. Every loss, every win this season has accumulated to this moment right here.”
Falling behind early didn’t bother Hunter either, as that’s a common situation the Dragons have put themselves in this season.
“We’ve been scored on a lot first,” the Michigan commit said. “That’s honestly been the story of our season so far. We get scored on first and we magically — every single time — find a way to come back. We are a comeback team, we never stop fighting.
“I wasn’t worried. I knew we had it. I wasn’t worried because we work for each other, and we never stop.”
Said coach Ott, “I’m really proud of the girls for fighting through, the whole time. We might not have gotten every call. We weren’t really playing our typical style of play. Just settled in. We have a lot of youngsters out there this year. Just settle, play our game, and do what we do. We fought through and made it count when it mattered.”
Hunter and Callahan have played with each other since youth field hockey. It’s fitting that the final time they ever suit up together, it ends with a championship.
“I trust her (Erin) with everything,” Hunter said. “She’s been my girl, she’s my passing partner, so, honestly, when she has the ball there’s no doubt in my mind that she’s going to have a positive impact.”
Added Callahan, “It means everything, being with them my whole life and now being able to achieve this. I never would’ve thought that (this would happen) when I was younger. We play so well together, we know each other so well. We talk all the time on and off the field and I think that really replicates that in our play.”
Contact Brian Tortella: btortreportssj@gmail.com.
