Jessie Kelly was symbolic of the Robbinsville High School field hockey team this fall.
The senior did not have a goal or assist but, according to coach Jennamarie Colicchia, “She was our saving grace on corners in every big game and a fearless defender.”
Fearless, unselfish and hard working.
“My strategy was to leave it all on the field,” Kelly said.
And as any field hockey fan knows, defending corners is crucial to success.
“For each corner, I gave it all I had no matter how scared I was,” Kelly said. “In those moments, the adrenaline helped put all other feelings and thoughts aside and allowed me to put my team first. Team-first comes into play here because I always knew that if I missed the shot, I had my defensive players and goalie to back me up. We worked as a strong unit on every play.”
Which is why, in what was supposed to be a rebuilding season, Robbinsville had another outstanding campaign. The Ravens went 13-2-1, with their two losses to Lawrenceville and Rumson-Fair Haven. The Big Red were the Mercer County Tournament and NJSIAA Prep A champions, while R-F went 22-2, was the Shore Conference Tournament champion and reached the NJSIAA Group II final.
Robbinsville definitely had talent, but more importantly, the players shared the philosophy that it was more about the Ravens than the individual.
“The entire team shared a ‘team-first’ philosophy,” Kelly said. “The reason we worked so well together is because nobody was selfish with the ball. This allowed us to transition the ball up the field easier than if one person tried to carry it alone.
“This applied in the defensive zone as well. We did whatever we could to keep the ball away from the goal. We never backed down and gave up, no matter how hard things were.”
Colicchia said that even though she “expected them to do great things,” she also felt the Ravens surpassed her expectations. With a number of young players filling key roles, the coach figured there would be some growing pains.
They never materialized, however, as Robbinsville went 12-0-1 in its first 13 games. During that time, the Ravens allowed just four goals.
“The young players played like veterans, and the veterans continued to lead the way, ” Colicchia said. “They impressed me all year.”
The senior class featured Liz Anderson, Erin Godfrey, Courtney Karagjozi, Kelly, Megan Kratz, Jess Michal and Sydney Schreier. Kratz led the team in overall scoring with 15 goals and a team-high 15 assists, while Godfrey had five goals and two assists.
It was more about statistics however, as it was a group that set the tone for unselfish play.
“The seniors held positions all over the field,” Colicchia said. “They were the types of solid players that you could really rely on. Sometimes, they would be put in positions that they never played before because the team needed it, and it was impressive how they embraced their role and excelled. This group will truly be missed.”
There was also a number of underclassmen who made a huge impact, starting with Shea Walsh. The sophomore led the team with 17 goals and added five assists.
“She had an amazing talent for scoring,” Colicchia said. “She most often played on pads, and never flinched from even the hardest shots. She has a great eye for being able to deflect the ball, and she was a silent offensive threat. Shea could block up any hit and never hesitated to distribute the ball to help the team score.”
Amanda Allen was another sophomore who made a big impact. Allen had five goals and one assist, but her impact was made from front to back. Colicchia praised her maturity, noting that even upperclassmen looked up to her.
“She never let an opponent intimidate her, and she took control all over the field,” the coach said. “Her work ethic is contagious. She is the true image of a leader by example.”
Megan Testa was a workhorse, a scorer (11 goals, 11 assists) and strong stick handler, often weaving her way into the circle before setting up a teammate. She always seemed one step ahead of the opposition.
“Megan’s hustle is part of the reason she has been so successful,” Colicchia said. “She finds a way to be in the right place at the right time and makes a hard job look easy.”
Perhaps the most pleasant surprise was junior goaltender Laura Redler, who filled a major need at the start of the season. As a first-year starter, Redler looked like she had been doing it for years. She recorded nine shutouts and never had an off day.
“She is by far one of the most consistent players on the field,” Colicchia said. “There was never an off day for her. She has an incredible balance of having fun while also working above and beyond what is expected of her. It’s easy for her teammates to work hard knowing that they are defending Laura behind them.”
While Kelly pointed to a 1-0 win over Allentown as the season’s highlight, Colicchia felt that amassing nearly the same record as the 2015 team (13-2-3) with nearly an entire new lineup was what made her happiest. She also pointed to one-goal wins over Notre Dame, Allentown and Lawrence in which the team showed, “strength, determination and grit.”
In looking back on the season, Kelly praised the coaching staff for teaching the team how to work together and said they helped make the season memorable. A former standout at The College of New Jersey, Colicchia has become one of the Colonial Valley Conference’s top young coaches after three years.
And then, of course, there were Kelly’s teammates.
“Every year there has always been a strong bond between the Robbinsville players,” Kelly said. “We were more than just teammates. We always had each other’s back on and off the field. As we all graduate, we won’t remember the wins and the losses, but we’ll always remember our teammates and coaches.”
Amanda Allen, Shea Walsh, Erin Godfrey, Megan Kratz, Megan Testa and Sydney Schreier all played key roles for the Robbinsville High field hockey team this season. (File photo by Suzette J. Lucas.),
