Field Hockey Falls to Pemberton 2-1

Coming into the game with a 1-3 record, the Pirates field hockey team was looking to get off to a fast start against Pemberton Monday afternoon.  

They did just that by scoring the first goal of the game.

But Pemberton tied the game 46 seconds later and went on to win by a score of 2-1.

The first goal of the game was scored by the Pirates’ Alex Halfen at 26:29 but Pemberton’s Kirsten Smith tied the game at one with 25:43 remaining in the first half.

“Their defense was still getting back because we took the ball downfield really fast. We practice like we play in games, we practice at game speed, which helps us with the speed of the game,” Halfen said.

The score remained tied until 20:05 in the second half when Pemberton’s Kate Butulan scored the game-winning goal.

“We took advantage of the game starting late so we were out here right after school working on some things so that helped with the momentum early in the game,” Head Coach Kara McGough said.

The reason for the late start was that Pemberton (3-2) did not arrive at (1-4) High School until a little after 4 p.m., delaying the start of the game for roughly 30 minutes. The loss was Cinnaminson’s fourth of the season and the team has now been outscored 17-9 in five games.

“We practice marking every day; we practice playing your girl and not letting her get a shot off. So I think if it breaks down then they score,” McGough said.

In the team’s first five games of the season, the Pirates have been mostly a second half team, but Coach McGough is trying to get the team to play with that same energy in the first half of games the remainder of the season.

“That’s what we’re working on right now because lately we have been a second half team. We are trying to have that energy the whole game,” McGough said.

Pemberton’s defense took over the game immediately after the Pirates scored the opening goal, not allowing many offensive chances for the Pirates until the final five minutes of the second half.

“I had to make some subs, I had a couple kids that just weren’t doing it, I think that gave us the pressure in the midfield. I think it was the midfield that made the difference for the offense,” Pemberton Head Coach Kathy Larkin said.

The Pirates will take on Holy Cross (4-1) at home on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.