The Pioneers earned the South Jersey Group 3 Championship title 1–0 against reigning champions Ocean City High School on Nov. 2.
The Clearview Regional High School varsity field hockey team made history last week when they earned the title of South Jersey Group 3 Champions for the first time.
The victory was made with a 1–0 win against five-year reigning South Jersey Group 3 champions and 2016 NJSIAA State Champions Ocean City High School on Nov. 2. Clearview junior Olivia Sindoni scored the first and only goal off a pass from senior Haley Plitt during the first half.
“It’s not just one person, it’s the whole team; without the whole team it wouldn’t have worked,” Sindoni said of the game-winning goal. “There could not be a better group out here; we all get along so well both on and off the field”
According to head coach Britney Ewan, the possibility of making school history was the team’s goal since day one of the season. In a lot of ways, she said, nothing was going to stop them.
“It’s the dynamic; this team is so together, they are on the same page and that is very rare to find in a team, and it’s ultimately what you need to be successful,” Ewan said. “To be able to add the amazing skill and strategy they can come up with, it’s just a dream team.”
Clearview is 18–1–1 for the season, with their only tie against West Deptford High School and loss against Delsea Regional High School. The team holds a 12–0 conference record for the Tri-County Division.
“They are all heart, never say die, never give in, and they were not leaving this field without a victory, there’s no doubt about it,” goalie coach Maria Unger said.
For seniors Plitt and Jill Verrelle, winning the state title is “the best outcome” to finishing their last season at Clearview strong.
“Our four years here, we never had anything built for us, so we built our own path and it’s crazy to get to this point,” Plitt said. “We worked so hard and we really earned everything.”
“We’ve been playing it like it’s our last. That push and heart is what really got us through this,” Verrelle said.
Assistant varsity coach Jaclyn Guth said the win will set the mark for the future of the team higher than they have ever been before.
“It’s a tell-tale sign of the hard work and dedication from this program from day one, all the way up,” Guth said.
The Pioneers will move on to the NJSIAA Group 3 state semifinals against the three-time reigning Central Jersey Group 3 Champions Moorestown High School.
Check www.mullicahillsun.com for the results of the Nov. 7 game. Tournament time and location are yet to be determined at this time.
