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 (Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) caption:
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Blazewski's Intensity Provides Spark As Stuart Field Hockey Edges PDS
By Bill Alden
Taylor Blazewski has earned the reputation among her Stuart field hockey teammates of giving her all on the field.
Last Friday, Blazewski gave further proof of her grit as the Tartans played at crosstown rival Princeton Day School in the season opener for both teams.
With just under five minutes remaining in the first half, Blazewski fought through a pack of PDS defenders in the circle to bang in a rebound to give Stuart a 1-0 lead.
Then in the waning moments of the game, after falling to the field like she had been shot, the senior forward fought through the pain of leg cramps to help the Tartans hang on for a hard-earned 1-0 victory.
With an ice pack wrapped around her calf, Blazewski maintained that a little leg pain wasn't about to keep her from fulfilling her obligations to her team.
"It was a little rough in the last few minutes," said Blazewski with a laugh. "I'm one of five seniors and I'm a captain so I feel like I have to step it up and lead everyone on the field."
Blazewski was particularly fired up to lead it on the field against PDS, which beat Stuart 4-0 last fall in the state Prep semifinals
"We're rivals," asserted Blazewski, who also stars for Stuart's ice hockey and lacrosse teams. "That game last year was pretty rough. We came out with a vengeance. We had to beat them. If we had lost this game, our morale would've been pretty low."
Stuart head coach Missy Bruvik was happy to have someone like Blazewski to lift the Tartans' morale. "Strong," said Bruvik without hesitation when asked to assess Blazewski's effort against the Panthers. "She's got great speed. She gets going on a defender and she's got good wheels to get past."
The longtime Stuart coach knew her team had to fight hard to get past the determined Panthers. "We got possession on the flip," said Bruvik, referring to the opening sequence of the contest. "I was pleased we were able to keep it down there for as long as we did. We took some pretty good shots but they were strong down there."
Bruvik was happy with her club's defensive strength as well. "I thought if anyone would be nervous, it would be our defense," added Bruvik.
"I thought that Ami Patel and Sarah Williams and all those backs were good. I thought the defense really maintained their composure back there."
Stuart also got a composed effort from junior goalie Christa Goeke, who had eight saves as she made her first start after splitting time with the graduated Maya Thompson the last two seasons.
"I told Christa she was ready," recalled Bruvik. "We're not rotating any more and she really stepped up."
While Bruvik was happy with her club's opening day effort, she knows the team has plenty of room for growth.
"There was some excitement and some nerves," said Bruvik, whose team made it to the Mercer County Tournament championship game last season.
"We're still fine tuning some things and figuring out where kids are going to play. We have to work on getting the ball out wide and quickly. I thought we sent it too much to the center and it gave them opportunities."
Blazewski, for her part, believes Stuart has the opportunity to put together another special season. "I thought we looked pretty good," said Blazewski, who will look to keep leading the way when Stuart plays at Sayreville on September 17 before hosting Blair on September 18 and Moorestown Friends on September 22.
"We definitely still have a lot to work on. I think we're going to have a pretty good year. We're always looking to go a step further."
With Blazewski providing the fire up
front, Stuart could go a long way this season.
