LCMR gets goals from Shepanski (2), Serra, Wright and Sharp in 5-0 win
LINWOOD — The Caper Tiger field hockey team dominated Mainland Regional High School’s Mustangs in the teams’ season opener Sept. 3.
The Lower Cape May Regional High School girls scored one goal in the first half and four more in the second to blank the Mustangs 5-0.
“I could not be more excited. They worked so hard all summer and I could not be more proud of them,” Caper Tiger assistant coach Eden Brojakowski said after the game.
“Our team chemistry this year is outstanding. I think every girl on this team has such a positive attitude and they’ve had it since the beginning of July working in the weight room, working together on and off the field. I love them,” said Brojakowski, who was filling in for head coach Ann Bracken at the opener.
“They’re all so kind to each other. They respect each other and they just love to have fun,” she added.
The Caper Tigers controlled play throughout the game, but the first quarter ended in a 0-0 draw.
Greta Shepanski got things started with a goal at the 6:31 mark of the second quarter on an assist from Maddie Sharp.
LCMR lived in the Mustangs’ end of the field for the third quarter, scoring three goals. Hailey Serra scored less than two minutes into the quarter, Shepanski earned her second goal a minute later and Alana Wright made it 4-0 by the 9:07 mark.
Sharp got a goal of her own just under two minutes into the fourth quarter at the 13:02 mark. The Caper Tigers played a little more defensively toward the end, but still finished with 20 shots on goal to Mainland’s one. Goalie Taylor Stietler stopped that one.
Mustang goalie Kaella Lee had three saves early and teammate Sarah Shenkus stopped 12 more to keep the game from getting away from Mainland.
Coach Brojakowski said Shepanski and Sharp are “outstanding” on the attack for LCMR and get a boost from Chloe Samaniego. “They’ve worked their butts off. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
She added the chemistry between the forwards and midfielders Reilly Satt, Marla Groetsch and Mia Mogavero was working well and “they really pulled it off today.”
Talking about the defense, which earned the shutout, Brojakowski said it was a great way to start the season for goalie Stietler and she praised sweeper Giordana Raymond for her communication with Madison Nuttal and Elizabeth McHugh.
“They work so well together and I love their communication. They are so aggressive and they really killed it today,” she said.
Brojakowski said last year’s freshman and sophomore classes have really stepped up their play and are working well with the seniors, who include Mogavero, Nuttal, Raymond, Satt and Wright.
She added the upperclassmen as a whole are setting a good culture for the program.
The team’s goals include a winning season and positive atmosphere.
Brojakowski said before the season started the coaches asked the players what they want the team to represent. The girls answered, “We want to be known as hard workers who are determined and that we are coming out this season full strength. We do not mess around.”
Brojakowski said she couldn’t wait to report back to Bracken and the other assistant coaches how well the team played in its opener.
The Caper Tigers followed that with a 6-0 win over Bridgeton Sept. 5. Shepanski had three goals and Nuttal, Sharp, Satt and Lyla Becica had one each.
By DAVID NAHAN/Cape May Star and Wave
