Field hockey: 'Proud' P'burg hangs tough in G4 loss

BORDENTOWN -- Even after a disappointing loss in the biggest game of the season, Phillipsburg was able to take solace in the fact that this year's team put the field hockey program back on the map.

The Stateliners' memorable postseason run came to an abrupt end against New Jersey powerhouse Eastern, which won its 22nd consecutive state championship with an impressive 8-0 win in the Group 4 final on a frigid Saturday afternoon at Bordentown Regional High School.

P'burg also reached the Group 4 final in 1998 and '99.

P'burg (13-10) saw its four-game win streak snapped with the loss in the program's first Group 4 final appearance since 1999, which coincidentally started Eastern's remarkable and record-setting championship run, but still has plenty to cheer about. The 'Liners posted back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2004-06 and captured their first sectional title since '99 after going 4-15-2 only two years ago.

"I knew that every year, we got better and better," said talented midfielder Madison Darmstadt, one of just six seniors on the roster and who helped P'burg reach the state title game with a goal in the 2-0 win against Middletown South in the North Group 4 sectional final. "We had a group of girls that wanted it more and more. 

"We worked our butts off every chance we got and I had so much faith in this team. It's a great group of girls and I knew we'd get here, even if it took two years. We're here and we deserved it."

Eastern (23-2), certainly the biggest favorite in the five title games on Saturday, had its hands full in this one until breaking it open with five goals over a nine-minute span on the only shots of the third quarter. The Vikings, who have won 29 sectional titles will surely be the top seed for next week's Tournament of Champions, got three goals on the day  from senior superstar Ryleigh Heck, a North Carolina recruit who raised her state-leading and single-season record total to 118 with two in that third quarter.

Phillipsburg's defense, led by senior Emilia Lopes and junior Alexandra Baker, was not intimidated, holding Eastern to a pair of goals and seven shots-on-goal in the first two quarters. Junior goalie Beth Kelly also made several outstanding saves, but the Vikings, who have won eight of the previous 13 TOCs, are relentless on offense and it seemed only a matter of time before the floodgates would open.

"One of the things about our team this year is that they're completely fearless," said fifth-year coach Toni Popinko, who as a star midfielder helped lead Warren Hills to the 2009 Group 3 final against South Jersey power Ocean City (a 2-1 loss in overtime). 

"It doesn't matter if I told them every little detail about [Eastern] or not. It doesn't change anything. I thought we played a great first half and then our third quarter, we came out a little flat and they capitalized on it. It happens.

"Our defense was phenomenal the first half. In the second half, our defense fell apart in a sense for about 10 minutes and [Eastern] capitalized on it. Once they realized it, we fixed it, but with a team like Eastern, you give them a 10-minute break it's going to hurt you."

Phillipsburg, which was seeking Warren County's first state title since Warren Hills went back-to-back in 2014 and '15 in Group 3, won eight of its final 11 games, including a 3-0 win over Warren Hills that snapped a 28-game losing skid in the series and a 4-3 victory over postseason nemesis Montclair in the sectional semifinals, didn't manage a shot-on-goal or a penalty corner, but the 'Liners fought to the final whistle, something that wasn't lost on Popinko or an NJSIAA executive who commended them on a hard-fought loss.

"We hit our goals this year. We're happy to be here," Popinko said. "I couldn't be prouder. What more can you ask for?

"It shows the direction our program is going. It's tough. I know they're upset. It's hard to get beat, 8-0. It's not fun. But at the same time, what an accomplishment."

P'burg celebrates the school's fifth sectional title.

Darmstadt, who will continue her playing career at Stonehill College, was a major reason why P'burg got this far. The 'Liners sat at 4-5 following their 1-0 loss to Parkland (Pa.) on Sept. 30, the only other time they were shut out this season, before Darmstadt, a stout defensive player for most of her career, shifted to the center midfield spot. P'burg went 9-5 the rest of the way and the offense scored three or more goals seven times.

"We knew we were [playing] against an amazing team that works just as hard as we do," Darmstadt said. "We came in and we had nothing to lose, so why not win. That was the mentality we came into the game with. It didn't go our way today, but I'm really proud. We played our butts off and I think it's just an honor to play against a team like [Eastern], girls with that much skill. I'm really happy how the season went and how this game went, even if we lost.

"The bus ride here, the wait in the locker room [there was a severe weather delay earlier in the Group 2 final and before North Hunterdon won the Group 3 title in the previous game], our intensity was up. Our hearts were in the game at the very beginning of the game. It's hard. As soon as the gates opened, they got another and another. It's hard to keep momentum up, but I think the team chemistry and the intensity we had coming into the game really helped us in the first half."

As a freshman in 2018, Darmstadt and her fellow seniors were determined to leave their mark a winning legacy for future 'Liners to follow. Mission accomplished.

"We worked hard for four years. We went from a program with no travel players to a program with I think close to 10," Darmstadt said. "As a freshman, I came in and just wanted to play. That was the only thing I wanted to do. I fell in love with the game at a young age. Did I expect [to play for a state title] as a freshman? No. I didn't even know what a championship game looked like. 

"As a senior, I'm just really proud that we made our way here. I'm really happy that we got to win the sectional title for our team, for our school and for our town."

Phillipsburg (13-10)               0           0          0         0           --    0
Eastern (23-2)                         1           1          5         1           --    8

Scoring

First quarter -- E, Ryleigh Heck, 116th, 6:31.

Second quarter -- E, Olivia White, 17th, (Brooke Ruiz), 11:06.

Third quarter -- E, Ruiz, 12th, (Heck), 9:51; E, Heck, 117th, (Hudson), 8:37; E, Ruiz, 13th, (Heck), 7:00; E, Riley Hudson, 13th, (Heck), 2:16; E, Heck, 118th, :13.

Fourth quarter -- E, White, 18th, (Ruiz), 5:00.

Shots -- Phillipsburg 0; Eastern 14.

Saves -- Beth Kelly 6 (P); Susie Miller 0 (E).

Penalty corners -- Phillipsburg 0; Eastern 11.