New Conference Proved Tough for Cougar Field Hockey

The Columbia girls field hockey team had a rough go of things during the first season in the newly formed Super Essex Conference. At 1-15-3 overall, the Cougars were victims of an extremely tough Essex County schedule and of an inability establish any consistent offense.

With only eight teams in the county, the Columbia girls did not have the advantage of being slotted in one of three-four different divisions, like the other sports. There is only one division in the SEC for field hockey, and with West Essex, Montclair and Montclair Kimberley Academy perched atop, there were few landing spot for the Red and Black girls this season.

“I’m proud of them. I’m proud of the way we played,” said second year Columbia head coach Maggie Singler. “I’m proud of the way we were able to hold teams to just one goal.”

Of their 15 losses, six were by a single score, and five were of the 1-0 variety. Columbia managed just six goals all season long. With the emergence of Samantha Storch in net, garnering first team all-conference and all-county (which is pretty much the same thing) honors at keeper, a few more scores from the Cougar offense might have led to a better season for the local girls.

“We have to be aggressive at the ball,” Singler said. “Someone, or hopefully more than one person, has to get hungry and want to score.”

Storch, who is the girls lacrosse starting goalie in the spring, never played keeper in field hockey before this season, but apparently she is a natural. The junior stopped 85 percent of the shots she faced, which was best in the county. She faced just over 12 shots per contest.

"She took it, she ran with it and she improved everyday,” Singler said of Storch becoming the goalie. “She just understands where the ball is going and where to put it.”

Other bright spots for the locals included Allison Mousseau, who earned an honorable mention in the county and conference. Grace Lambert and Maggie Richardson also received all-county honors.

Many of the Essex County schools are looking to join leagues with the Union County teams. By doing so, the league would be able to be broken up into smaller divisions, allowing the potential for more equal competition. However, the county schools tried the same thing a year ago, only to see the motion voted down by the Union County athletics directors. There will be another vote this school year.

Should the girls end up in the same conference next season, it may be a tough road again. Coach Singler said that she doesn’t expect the top teams to go anywhere, and should they enter the county tournament, they’ll end up playing either West Essex, Montclair or MKA three times in the same season, while playing the other two twice.

“We’re in a tough, tough conference. I think we can improve. I think there are teams that we can beat,” Singler said. “I want them to believe that they can do it.”

Positives to look forward to in the 2010 season include returning Storch at the goalie position and Richardson, the team’s leading scorer, back to the field. A year’s experience for some of the younger players as well as another year of experience for Singler, entering her third season at the helm.

Download the movie