Field hockey: Warren Hills denies Ocean City its third state championship in last four years with stout defense

By DAVE O’SULLIVAN Publisher BORDENTOWN — Warren Hills goalie Jackie de Raismes did something on Saturday afternoon at Bordentown High School that nobody had done in two years — she held the Ocean City field hockey team scoreless. DeRaismes came up big time after time while facing a relentless Red Raiders offensive attack in the second half, and her efforts helped the Blue Streak defend their Group 3 championship with a 1-0 win over Ocean City. The last time Ocean City had lost a game without scoring a goal was Nov. 18, 2013 in a 5-0 defeat to Shore Regional in the Tournament of Champions. Ocean City’s only loss this season was a 4-1 setback against Eastern Regional, the top-ranked team in the nation, in late October. Midfielder Katie Thompson scored less than two minutes into the game, and that was enough to lift Warren Hills to its second straight state championship over Ocean City. The teams have played for the state championship the past four years, with Ocean City winning in 2012 and 2013 and Warren Hills capturing the last two. Ocean City senior Jordan Allegretto takes a shot on goal during the Group 3 state championship on Saturday at Bordentown High School. (Glory Days Magazine photos/Dave O’Sullivan) “After they scored, we knew we were going to have to battle back. As more time went on and we hadn’t scored, I was like, OK, this is going to be a close game but at least let’s just get one and we can get it to 7-a-side (overtime). I thought we completely dominated the second half and we had a lot of opportunities, it just did not happen for some reason,” Ocean City coach Cory Terry said. “The girls gave such a great effort. (Our girls) deserved to win with the way they played. Halfway through the first half and into the whole second half, I thought they were going to make it happen, but it just didn’t.” Facing that 1-0 deficit in the second half, the Red Raiders (22-2) came at Warren Hills (22-2-1) with wave after wave of offensive pressure in an effort to tie the game and potential send it to overtime. But each time, de Raismes was up to the task. Ocean City’s best opportunity came with 28:37 left in the game, as the Red Raiders were awarded a penalty stroke after a Blue Streak foul inside the circle. Alexis Paone took the shot, and de Raismes dove to her right to deny the tying goal. Ten minutes later, Ocean City had three straight corners and was denied by de Raismes and the Warren Hills defense each time. Ocean City had one last great chance with the clock winding under 14 minutes, as Rialee Allen — one of the Red Raiders’ top scoring threats — found herself on a breakaway down the right side. She dribbled in as close as she could, but de Raismes came up with another huge save to keep the 1-0 lead intact. Despite the loss, Terry said she was extremely proud of the season her players put together, and tried to give her players some perspective following the loss. “I told the girls that this did not take away from anything they have done all season or throughout their careers, especially these seniors. Even though they weren’t part of a state championship team this year, they have been in the past, and they are a part of this program, laying the foundation for the future every single year,” Terry said. “No matter what, they are always a part of whatever is going on with Ocean City field hockey. And they have to look at it like that, and not an opportunity lost. It just wasn’t our day.” Contact Dave O’Sullivan: sully@acglorydays.com; on Twitter @GDsullysays [adsense]