Rustin advances with shutout of Kennett
WESTTOWN—It was No 16 Rustin hosting No 17 Kennett Monday afternoon in the opening round of the District 1, Class AAA field hockey playoffs. In a game highlighted by fantastic goalie play on both ends of the field, the Golden Knights (10-7-1) topped the Blue Demons (11-8) to advance to Wednesday’s round of 16.
The Golden Knights travel to face top-seeded Central Bucks East, with a game time of 3:30 PM.
“We’re playing well as a team right now,” said Rustin coach Susie Macciocca. “They know they can play and compete with anyone. We know they are the number one seed, so we aren’t going in cocky. We’re going in humble but knowing we can compete and win.”
The teams were scoreless over the first twenty minutes, though both teams had plenty of opportunities with penalty corners and shots on goal. Just after the clock wound down to the final ten minutes, the Knights finally broke the deadlock with an unassisted goal from Alexis Schambers.
Rustin struck again just before the break, when Morgan Becker fed Blaise Cugini with a pass right in front of the cage. Cugini went to her right, then slipped one past the goalie to make it a 2-0 Rustin lead at halftime.
“I knew the goalie was coming out, so I knew I wanted to kind of go around her and get us that two-goal cushion just before the half,” said Cugini. “This has been such a fun season. We all just want to keep the program growing and we just don’t want to see it end.”
Cugini finished the afternoon with a pair of goals, finding the back of the cage again with 12-minutes to play, with Shannon Drakerey picking up the assist.
Kennett never let up relentless pressure inside the circle, and actually finished the game holding a 9-6 edge in corners, and outshot Rustin 19-18.
“We got off quite a few shots,” said Kennett coach Megan Shumway. “Some good shots, some not as good. But we just couldn’t finish. That goalie did a great job today.”
Rustin goalie Meg Hadfield was, as she has been all year, a brick wall in the cage, and gets credit for 15 saves on the day.
“Meg was the difference maker,” said Macciocca. “Without Meg in there, this is a 3-3 game or worse. She was just spectacular. She does such a good job, not just saving shots, but with how she communicates and runs the defense back there.”
The season comes to a close for Kennett, but doesn’t erase what was a very good season for the Blue Demons.
“We all worked so hard all year to get here,” said Shumway. “And all season long, they just got better and better. That is what you really want to see—continued growth. I hope the returning players just embrace that playoff feeling and learn that you have to keep that level of intensity all year.”
Kennett 0 0 –0
Rustin 2 1 –3
Goals: Cugini (2), Schambers
Goalie Saves: Borman (K) 14, Hadfield (WCR) 15
