May 13, 2010
Rumson captures elusive SCT title

Breakthrough Performance
By Sherlon Christie STAFF WRITER May 12, 2010

WEST LONG BRANCH  After several years of heartbreak and frustration in the Shore Conference Tournament final, the Rumson-Fair Haven girls lacrosse team experienced the opposite emotion Junior Meg Douty sparked the celebration and also led Rumson-Fair Haven to its first SCT title with three goals and two assists as the top-seeded Bulldogs defeated Class A Central rival and third-seeded Manasquan, 13-5. "It was very important to set the tone early in this game. We've been here (in the SCT final) so many times before and we've come out flat," Douty said. "So, we wanted to show everyone what we could do."
Rumson-Fair Haven (14-3) appeared in its fourth consecutive SCT final on Wednesday afternoon at Monmouth University's Kessler Field with fresh memories of the previous three outings: all losses to Shore Regional.
However, Manasquan (12-4) beat Shore in the semifinals ensuring whatever squad won the SCT title would get its first title.
"It was a long time coming. I've felt like we were a better team (than how we performed in past SCT Finals) and we just fell short in the big moments," Rumson-Fair Haven coach Amy O'Keefe said. "I knew we had a good team again (this year) and (in the past) we tended to fall under high pressure situations. I always was blaming it on inexperience and not being in the hot seat a lot. We couldn't use that anymore. We've been here. We're the home team (for this game). We're the No. 1 seed. It is our
time."
Manasquan was the first team to score as Sarah Mahon (three goals, two assists) scored on an 8-meter shot with 17:59 left.
The Bulldogs responded with five straight goals to take a 5-1 lead with 5:27 left in the first half. Emily Torcivia scored all three of her goals during that span while Douty and Charlotte Brodsky (two goals) each added their first.
"We should have never let it (the game) get away from us," Manasquan coach Maria Eldridge said. "We went out not playing our game and (instead) playing to Rumson-Fair Haven rather than being ourselves on the field. So, that was pretty much our downfall."
The Warriors scored the next two goals to make it 5-3 as Erin Healy and Kelly Cunningham each scored their only goals of the game. But Douty struck again with 3:26 left to give Rumson-Fair Haven the momentum going into halftime with a 6-3 lead. "We know what our talent and our skill level are and we know what we have to do. We know that we are the best team in the Shore Conference and we just had to get the job done," O'Keefe said. "Meg Douty has been an important part of this team. She's an amazing player. We are so thankful to have a player like that on Rumson-Fair Haven." While the Bulldogs won their first SCT title in their fourth attempt, Manasquan made it to its second SCT final on Wednesday. The Warriors are still seeking their first championship after losing in the 2001 final to Jackson Memorial.
Rumson-Fair Haven also defeated Manasquan, its Class A Central rival, for the third time this season after Wednesday's victory. The Bulldogs defeated Manasquan 17-9 and 10-9 (OT) in the two regular season games.