 (Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) WEB GEM: Stuart Country Day goaltender Nathalie Verhaegen makes one of her 40 saves in Stuart's 8-1 loss to Princeton High. Last Monday, Verhaegen recorded 50 saves to keep things close as Stuart dropped a 4-1 decision at Princeton Day School. |
It was the kind of start that could have broken the spirit of a hockey team and doomed it to a lopsided defeat.
Playing at powerful Morristown-Beard, the Stuart Country Day hockey team fell behind 2-0 minutes into the contest.
Despite having only two offensive lines and four defenders, the undermanned Tartans refused to give in, holding Mo-Beard scoreless for the rest of the first period and all of the second period.
Although the Crimson tacked on two late goals to earn a 4-0 victory, Stuart head coach Greg Bugge was impressed by how his squad fought back after its rocky start.
"We played hard," said Bugge. "I was very proud of the girls. We fight hard no matter what. My kids don't quit."
The Tartans have been getting plenty of fight this winter from senior goalie Nathalie Verhaegen, who made several sparkling saves in keeping the Mo-Beard game close.
"I think she is very good at anticipating the shots," said Bugge of his goaltender who recorded 40 saves in a recent 8-1 loss to Princeton High. "She can follow the puck well and she's getting better at rebounds."
In Bugge's view, though, it is Verhaegen's hunger to improve that has set her apart. "She has taken the initiative to go to several summer hockey camps," said Bugge. "She went to the Dartmouth camp last summer which is a high-end goalie camp. She plays every chance she gets. She played last summer in a boys' league at Iceland. She is clearly driven internally."
Stuart is getting drive from some of its freshman performers as well. "Haley Meagher plays defense, she's going to be someone to look at in the future," asserted Bugge, noting that five of his key players are freshmen or sophomores. "Courtney Alexander and Erin Moretti are also good."
Stuart's senior trio of Christa Goeke, Hilary Kinka, and Noha Ghusson have provided the club with stability up front.
"These girls have been playing on the same line for five years and they really know how to work together," said Bugge, whose club fell 4-1 to PDS last Monday to move to 0-7 on the season. "I'm pleased with their effort and performance."
While the team has struggled to pick up wins, having only one victory in the last two seasons, Bugge believes his players have nevertheless developed a special devotion to hockey.
"It's a program that's measured differently," said Bugge, whose club plays at Lansdale Catholic on February 2 before hosting Pingry on February 4.
"It's not wins and losses but the growth that we see in the skills and play of the girls from November to February. They come in at 5 a.m. for practice and work their butts off. They don't have a win yet but they still do everything we ask of them and more. We do the best we can with what we've got."
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