(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) caption: LOW NOTE: Stuart Country Day field hockey star Jackie Gaudioso-Radvany bends over to hit a ball in a game earlier this season. Last Wednesday, Gaudioso-Radvany couldn’t find the range as third-seeded Stuart fell 2-0 to No. 4 Hopewell Valley in the Mercer County Tournament championship game. The loss prevented Stuart from winning a fourth straight MCT crown. The Tartans ended the season with an 18-6 record.

Stuart Field Hockey Stopped by HoVal, Falling Short of 4th Straight MCT Title

Bill Alden

The Mercer County field hockey tournament was full of twists and turns this fall, with rain delays, venue changes, and a final that took place four days later than originally scheduled.

But when the dust settled there was one constant, the Stuart Country Day squad was in the championship game, marking the Tartans’ sixth straight appearance in the finals.

With rain pelting the field at WW/P-N last Wednesday, third-seeded Stuart looked to win its fourth straight MCT title as it faced No. 4 Hopewell Valley.

It was the surging Bulldogs, however, who struck first, scoring at the 10:33 mark of the first half. HoVal added another score 17 minutes later to take a 2-0 lead into halftime.

During the intermission, the whole Stuart team huddled in one of the goal cages as head coach Katie Grant delivered words of inspiration.

“It was just the idea that we are down 2-0 but we still have 30 minutes,” said Grant, recalling her halftime message.

“They scored two goals in 30 minutes and we can score two goals in 30 minutes or more. You need to keep that mentality; that you have 30 minutes to play and you need to put that ball across the line.”

In the second half, Stuart tried to apply that message, banging ball after ball down the field but the Bulldog defense was up to the task, holding the fort as they won the title by that 2-0 margin.

Afterward, Grant tipped her hat to HoVal. “I don’t think overall that we played a bad game; I just think that Hopewell played a good game,” said Grant, whose team ended its season with an 18-6 record.

“I think they went to the ball quicker; they were just a little bit more active. They wanted it a little bit more. I think we had plenty of opportunities, we had a lot of chances, we just couldn’t capitalize. They didn’t really have a ton of chances; they just made the most of them. I thought we had spurts of brilliance.”

Grant acknowledged that HoVal produced a brilliant defensive effort. “People always ask me did you see number so and so on the other team and usually I don’t even notice the other team but today I really did,” said Grant, praising HoVal defenders Morgan McCabe and Megan Dunne.

“They really stood out to me, they just backed each other up really well and that’s all it takes. It’s 11 players out there; if you don’t work together and back each other up, then you aren’t going to produce.”

Stuart became increasingly desperate as it tried to breach the Bulldog defense.

“I think we started to just hit the ball through them, hit and hope,” said Grant.

“They were blocking out very well and that was hard; it wasn’t working. That was tough because I felt we were getting out of our game. When you are running out of time, you need to focus and do the simple things because that’s what works, rather than changing your game.”

While the final result was disappointing, Grant was proud of the game her group of seniors has displayed through their stellar careers.

“All of the seniors have had a great four years here,” said Grant of the class that posted an overall mark of 72-8-7 over the last four seasons and included such standouts as Jackie Gaudioso-Radvany, Caroline Passano, Clodagh Coghlan, Kate Wiles, and Haley Meagher.

“Even this season, we made it to the championship game. It is not easy to do, back to back to back. I think they need to be very, very proud of themselves. I think they are all going to be successful in the future.”

The Tartans’ top senior, Gaudioso-Radvany, the program’s all-time leading scorer, will be looking to have success at the University of North Carolina next fall.

“I am sure it is tough for her to go out on a lower note with a loss,” said Grant of Gaudioso-Radvany, who is the only player in county history with 100 career goals.

“At the same time, I think she has so much to celebrate so much to be proud of. She’s going on to play, good for her, that’s exciting.”

In Grant’s view, it was an exciting season notwithstanding the disappointment of ending on a down note.

“We had our ups and downs; I think on the whole that they enjoyed the season,” said Grant, a former Duke University field hockey star who is in her second year at the helm of the Stuart program.

“I hope that it was a positive experience for them. I want them to have fun. I know it is hard to lose; it always is. I know they are not used to it, that’s the hardest part. But at the same time, you need to be able to recognize what another team does. Today HoVal played a good game; you need to be able to be the champs and you need to be able to be good sports.”

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