Expectations Always High for Ocean City Field Hockey

The long, proud and winning tradition of Ocean City High School field hockey continues.

The Red Raiders, the defending Group III South champions, have to overcome some key losses, but the program usually does so without missing a beat.

Ocean City, which was 21-1 last season with its lone loss coming in the state semifinals in double-overtime, expects to be in the hunt for sectional and state titles again.

“We are big on our tradition,” Ocean City senior Mia Tomkins said. “Being a successful program, we are so team-oriented. We have the same schedule every year, and we have team bonding sessions … We are all dedicated and work hard; we have running tests. We definitely put in a lot of work for the success we get.”

“We have been pretty strong," Tomkins said. "I think the past 13 seasons we won the Cape-Atlantic League and in the past three years we won a South Jersey championship. I definitely think we will be there again.”

The Red Raiders fell a game short of appearing in the state championship game. The Red Raiders are using that as motivation this year.

“We are focusing on feeling that sensation of being so close you can taste it,” Ocean City coach Cory Terry said. “That feeling gives is a desire to continue to work hard and fulfill the same goals as last year and continue to keep moving toward a greater vision, which for our team is to play together and obviously be successful. We want to try to do everything we did last year and try to improve every day we step on the field.”

The Red Raiders lost Jenn Staab, who is now playing for Rutgers University, and talented forward McKenzie Lindquist, who graduated in June.

However, the duo left plenty of talent behind in senior captains Tomkins, a midfielder, forward Liz Cruz and defender Ali Stever.

“Our captains are dedicated to the team and are selfless leaders,” Terry said. “They are leaders by example. Our young players with less experience have great role models to look up to.”

Tomkins and senior Shannon Lawson are expected to provide a scoring punch for the Red Raiders.

Also back is Roisin Dougherty, who saw some time in the goal cage.

“She worked really hard in the offseason and has come back in really good shape,” Terry said. “She not as timid, and she is more comfortable being aggressive and vocal on the field. That is something we are looking for from her.”

Sophomore April Stein (midfielder), and juniors Jacquie Stenton (forward), Casey Hanna (defense), Courtney Allen (midfielder) saw some time last year and are expected to be full-time starters this year.