Hill School caps unbeaten run to Mid-Atlantic Prep League crown
POTTSTOWN >> A raucous atmosphere, a win over your archrival, and a league trophy for good measure. Who could ask for anything more?
The Hill School field hockey team couldn’t have asked for more Saturday when it made the most of its chances in a 2-0 victory over Lawrenceville to complete a run to the outright Mid-Atlantic Prep League championship.
The win on Briggs S. Cunningham ‘26 ‘50 Field capped the 131st installment of The Hill School-Lawrenceville Day with plenty of fan support lining the field.
Sophomore Logan Clouser was the architect of both Blues goals, converted on tip-ins from senior Taylor Duffany and junior Alex Conway in each half.
“A lot of happiness, a lot of tears – happy ones,” said Duffany, a senior captain from Pottstown. “Knowing all our hard work paid off, every sprint, every drill. It’s great to know it all paid off.”
Hill improved to 13-3 after capping its 5-0 MAPL run and reversing last year’s 2-1 loss to Lawrenceville for the league title.
“It’s so satisfying. We work really hard and play a super-hard schedule against top 20 teams in the country,” senior Tatumn Eccleston said. “This win is what we worked for all year so it’s so exciting.”
With the potential of all its success to date going for naught, it wasn’t a dream start for the Blues. Lawrenceville was the stronger side in the first five minutes, but Hill worked its way into the game and struck first on its first corner when Logan Clouser’s second-chance shot was tipped in by Duffany 19 minutes in.
“I’ve been having a dry spell scoring a little so I honestly wasn’t expecting a goal,” Duffany said. “That was all Logan Clouser, I just finished it off for her. Props to her.”
Lawrenceville led statistically in the first half, 7-2 in shots on goal, 8-6 overall shots, but the freshman defensive tandem of Maddy Orsi and goalie Hayley Gable (eight saves) were superb for Hill.
“It was definitely hard fought,” Eccleston said. “Our scores have been very even and they play similar to us so we knew we had to come out strong. We wanted it a lot and were able to fight harder.”
With 12:16 to play, the Blues got the breathing room they needed when Clouser expertly carried to the right and centered toward the cage for an onrushing Conway for the 2-0 final margin.
With the underclassmen-filled defense, including sophomore Tanner Eccleston, plus other key underclassmen like Clouser and midfielder Josephine Palde, the Hill’s trajectory is pointing skyward.
“It’s going to be awesome for the future too,” Eccleston said. “We have such a young team with such great players. Our sophomore class has about 12 kids so it’s going to be a strong future.”
But first, The Hill turns its attention to the PAISAA Championships, which begin Tuesday when Hill, the No. 4 seed, hosts No. 5 Agnes Irwin at 3:45 p.m.
NOTES >> Hill led in corners 8-5 and total shots 10-9. … Other seniors on the Hill roster include Isabella Palde and Sophie Goldberg.
