Holy Cross edges Maple Shade

Senior Maddi Robertson played as a forward for three years on the Holy Cross field hockey team. But the captain was moved to defender just this year, and she looks as if she has been playing her new position forever.

Clearing the ball out of the circle with composure and consistency, Robertson led the defensive end during the Lancers' 3-2 home victory over Maple Shade in a downpour Wednesday afternoon in a Burlington County League interdivision matchup.

"I was so proud of the girls," Robertson said. "Rain is not easy to play in with field hockey, and I think our girls pulled through. We played our game all 60 minutes, and I couldn't be prouder."

Holy Cross (13-2) has secured at least a share of first place in the league's Patriot Division. The Lancers will win or tie with Bordentown depending on the Scotties' next two games, against Cinnaminson.

Robertson's defensive efforts paid off alongside the aggression of the Holy Cross offense, with Megan Byham scoring the only goal of the first half with a little less than seven minutes left off a pass from Michaela Meillier.

But the Wildcats (10-4-1) came out hard after halftime, tying the game twice on goals by forwards Taylor Reader and Mackenzie Karcher, who assisted each other.

Karcher's goal came with a little more than three minutes left and tied the score, 2-2, after Lancers forward Darien Barker had put an unassisted shot into the left side of the cage.

"We really tried to just focus on the basics of field hockey," Holy Cross coach Roxanne Kuzio said. "So many of my players stepped up today. . . . They always do a great job working together, and they just fought through the conditions we had to work with."

With the score tied, Holy Cross continued to push through the heavy rain, breaking the deadlock with a little more than a minute left in regulation. Forward Mia Scott scored the winning goal.

"It felt really good," said Scott, who lifted the ball over a defender's stick and into the net after a deflection. "Hearing the ball hit the back of the cage was awesome."

In defeat, Maple Shade goalie Dana Sheply recorded 19 saves.

"We knew we had to step up big," Kuzio said. "This was a huge game for us."

Maple Shade 0 2 - 2

Holy Cross 1 2 - 3

Goals: MS-Taylor Reader, Mackenzie Karcher; HC-Darien Barker, Megan Byham, Mia Scott.

Saves: MS-Dana Sheply 19; HC-Sarah Byham 4.