By Rich Fisher, Contributing Editor
Top Photo: The Notre Dame High School field hockey team celebrates its Colonial Valley Conference Tournament victory after defeating Princeton in the championship game Oct. 17 at Hightstown High School. Courtesy photo
The banner has hung alone in the field hockey section of the Notre Dame High, Lawrenceville, gymnasium for 33 years, simply stating “MCT Champs, 1992.”
Now it will have company.
The Mercer County Tournament morphed into the Colonial Valley Conference Tournament three years ago, but is still the tourney that decides local superiority.
On Oct. 17, the Irish won the CVCT championship with a 3-1 victory over Princeton at Hightstown High School. It was a massive triumph, especially for the seniors, who lost the CVCT final to Allentown two years ago.
“That definitely did not feel good, so this was a big jump (in emotions),” said Kelsey Wood, who scored the game-winning goal. “It was really a great feeling. Especially being a senior and being one of the leaders on the team. Our seniors have worked so hard the last three years for this moment.”
What gives the title special meaning is that the Irish players are not only good, but exude class and serve as positive role models for the school. Most are members of Catholic Athletes for Christ and live those lessons before, during and after games.
“Our faith definitely plays a big role in how we treat each other on the field and off the field; how we go about our play style, and our routine before our games when we pray,” Wood said. “We take that to heart and it plays a big part in how we connect with each other and play the game. “
Cheryl Harris – who has coached in the program since 1995 and took over as head woman in 2019 when legendary Barb Major stepped down – feels her girls try being quality people before being good players.
“During our team talk some of them talked about how they couldn’t believe how some people on other teams yell at each other on the field; swear at each other,” Harris said. “They’re just appalled. There is a lot of empathy running through our team.”
That starts at the top. When the final whistle blew against Princeton, Harris was elated for her team. But as she wandered past some Tiger players, she thought back to when ND lost in the finals two years ago.
“I just remember that sick feeling when we were walking off the field,” the coach recalled. “I felt like I lost somebody. The girls were so upset. On Saturday as I was running to congratulate my team, I saw a couple girls on Princeton crying. Just for that quick moment I was thinking “Oh God, for us to feel this good, we had to make somebody feel so horrible.’ We had been there before and part of me wanted to hug some of their girls.”
During the fiercely fought and evenly contested battle, Tori Suschke scored her team-leading 16th goal to give ND a 1-0 lead in the first quarter. Princeton tied it in the second and it stayed that way until sophomore Nicole Hurley fed Wood in front and she scored her 15th goal with 7:50 left in the game.
Wood did it with her usual “flair.”
“I was falling down when I scored,” she said with a laugh. “I score a lot when I’m falling down. I’m definitely known for that.”
She’s also known for getting important goals, and stated that “I think I get excited with an adrenaline rush and just like to hit the ball in there.”
She also gives credit to players like Hurley, who scored a late insurance goal, and fellow-senior Suschke. The two have developed great chemistry over three seasons.
“I’m very blessed with teammates who create great opportunities,” Wood said. “Especially Tori, who gets the ball to our forward line.”
Harris praised Wood’s clutch play, saying, “It’s her heart. She has such a passion for doing the best in everything she does. She cannot just be present. She has to put her best on the field. Practice or game.”
Wood also threw Princeton’s defense out of synch when, rather than shoot, she would pass back to Grace Marrone at midfield. That allowed the Irish to form a plan of attack the Tigers were not expecting.
“Kelsey made a lot of things happen by being unselfish,” said Harris, who felt the key to victory was the Irish smoothly sharing the ball with strong teamwork.
Notre Dame (11-3 record) got a big effort from defenders Claire Hanley, Katelyn Brown and Lily Bilfuco, who limited Princeton to just four shots on goalie Cora Guicheteau. Paige Marrone, Gabbi Franzen and Hurley provided pressure up front while Grace Marrone, Adria Durkin, Suschke and Brynn Souders steadied the midfield.
It all meshed when Harris moved Suschke up to attacking center midfielder and dropped Souders to defensive center mid after a 3-1 loss to Princeton Oct. 7. On that night they were exhausted from being up at 6 a.m. for Senior Sunrise. This time, they got good sleep and nocturnal advice from their coach that included counting sheep instead of goals.
“I told them ‘Before you go to bed, let’s envision that winning goal or that amazing defensive save or that pass that just led to a great goal. And then dream on it and wake up pumped.”
Now they can envision another banner on the wall – for real.