Hightstown falls to Jackson Memorial in quarters

JACKSON TWP. >> A young Hightstown field hockey team ventured to Jackson Memorial in hopes of upsetting the No. 2 seeded Jaguars.

The seventh-seeded Rams got turned away, why? Experience required. This was a year Hightstown knew was going to be a season of growth and although it made tremendous strides, Jackson Memorial was just too tough, taking a 4-0 win in the Central Jersey Group IV quarterfinals played on the grass at Memorial.

The defeat ends the Rams’ season with a 5-11-2 mark.

Jackson Memorial (13-41) meets the winner of No. 6 Lenape and No. 3 Freehold Township in the semifinals. The other CJ IV semifinal pits No. 4 Rancocas Valley at No. 1 Princeton.

Jackson Memorial needed just 1:57 to let the Rams know it was going to be tough to pull the upset as it converted a corner with Mackenzie Dakin getting the goal.

However, this was a Hightstown team that wasn’t measured by wins and losses as much as it was by how much it grew.

“We definitely grew from where we started,” said coach Ed Larkin. “We had our ups and downs and some speed bumps in the road. They learned the game and we grew together a lot.”

What ended up being a lot in the Rams’ season finale was the amount of penalty corners awarded the Jaguars. They had 30 corner opportunities.

Considering the number of opportunities, Hightstown’s defense did a pretty good job.

“Our girls saw how successful a team can be when they do the little things right,” said Larkin. “We let up 30 corners, but our corner defense was pretty solid and that is something we can build on and we have a lot of good kids coming back.”

Talia Allen did a good job for the Rams on defense and Maddie Schaefer was solid in the cage with nine saves.

The Jaguars scored two in the first half and two in the second. Dakin finished with two goals, Claudia DiStasio and Abigail Reist each had one. Reist, Sydney Walter and Abigail Rauch all had assists.

While Jackson Memorial was able to put four in the cage, finding someone to consistently do it for the Rams has been frustrating.

They finished the season being shut out in the last four games.

“It has been frustrating,” said Larkin. “We’ve had stretches where we’d score, and they have a drought. It’s been frustrating, but I know there is more I can do, and I have to figure out what I can do to help them.

“We have to work hard in the off season. A lot of people now have the confidence and the experience because they have a year of varsity. That will really help us.” Hightstown (5-11-2) 0 0 – 0 Jackson Memorial (13-4-1) 2 2 – 4 Goals: JM: Dakin 2, Reist, DiStasio. Assists: JM: Rauch, Reist, Walter. Shots: H: 3, JM: 15. Saves: H: Schaefer 11, JM: Trembley 3.