The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Camden takes top spot in Class B
CICERO, N.Y. » Tri-Valley League Championship? Check. Section III Class B Sectional crown? Check. With a 2-0 win against East Syracuse Minoa on Monday night, the Camden Blue Devils can boast the Class B field hockey title and will advance to the New York State field hockey regional playoffs.
Prior to Monday’s contest, the Blue Devils had ripped off 11 straight wins, outscoring opponents during that stretch 662. Though the Blue Devil offense was not quite as potent against ESM, it provided goalkeeper Mariah Mix and the Camden defense all it needed to advance to Sunday’s Regional contest with Burnt Hills.
“Going into this game today, I knew it wasn’t going to be a 7-0 game,” Camden coach Shannon McPheron said. “My defense is very strong back there, obviously being led by Delainey Hebble and Abby Walker, my two outside backs. They are both very good back there. Delainey Hebble, my right back, for a defender is very offensive-minded. Shewas always a mid-fielder, and I moved her to back, and she just sees the ball so well. Going into the game today, our defense and goalie has not been challenged a whole lot which always makes me a bit nervous because obviously in postseason your goalie and backs are going be challenged. They are very smart players, and they do a lot of work in the offseason so they are definitely prepared for the challenges ahead.”
Camden took a 1- 0 advantage on a Delaney Alberico goal to open the scoring. Moments later, Mercedes Currie took advantage of a Camden corner, and the Blue Devils had a 2-0 lead,
one they would carry into the half.
Despite taking advantage of a penalty corner of their own early on, Camden surrendered several corners to an attacking ESM offense. Fortunately for McPheron’s side, the Blue Devil defense was able to weather the set pieces.
“That’s something we have not really faced at all this season because usually the tables are turned. Today was something different, but we are going to use it as something positive because going into the regional game on Sunday, we now know that if we have penalty corners, our defense is very strong and smart back there and does a great job getting them out,” Camden’s coach said. “My team has been a very aggressive team all season long. They are a very wellcomposed team. They don’t get frazzled, and I think in today’s game, that kind of helped.”
And as Camden turns its attention toward Sunday’s 2 p.m. regional matchup with Burnt Hills at Shenenedehowa High School, the Blue Devils find themselves preparing for a familiar opponent. Burnt Hills handed Camden a 3-2 loss at the O’Connor Classic, one of just three losses McPheron’s side has suffered all season.
“We are definitely ready. We are a very different team than we were when we played Burnt Hills,” she said. “It seemed like that weekend of our O’Connor Classic our whole game turned. We started really playing together as a team. Now, it’s just straight ahead.”