RUMSON – Rain, wind, blinding rain, cold, Toms River North - Rumson's girls lacrosse team had an answer for all of them.
     In the second round of the Shore Conference Tournament, the second-seeded Bulldogs hosted the seventh-seeded Mariners on the artificial turf field at Rumson, and got it done despite a less-than-ideal atmosphere.
    "The conditions were terrible," said Rumson junior Celee Belmonte. "Between the rain and wind, it was pretty bad. At first we had some trouble with our sticks, adjusting to them being so wet."
     While nature did not choose sides, the victory went to the host Bulldogs, 14-6.
     “I’d rather just play and get it over with,” Rumson head coach Amy O’Keefe said.
     “A lot of people don’t want to play on a Saturday morning,” junior Bulldog Alexis Harrison said, when asked if she was OK with playing in the heavy rain on Friday. “It’s so nice having a turf field so we can play rain or shine and get the game over with.”   
     Leighann Torcivia led the way with five goals, while Megan Douty and Belmonte had three goals apiece, and Belmonte added an assist. Abby Eastwood, Paula Nociolo and Katie Lushefski also each contributed one goal in the game.
    The victory sets up a matchup against the winner of the Jackson Memorial and Ocean game that takes place on Saturday in Jackson.
    “An SCT championship is what we’ve all worked so hard for,” Belmonte said. “We’re not underestimating anyone, but we want Shore. We need to make the third time the charm and pull it out.”
   For the Mariners, Taylor Reinecke had two goals and one assist while Lucie Mosko, Lauren Segalla, Nicole Testa and Tatum Coffey all had one goal on the day.
    “On offense we were handling passes well and were doing a good job fighting to get possession back,” O’Keefe said. “The girls were all fighting for groundballs and hustling for everything.”
   Rumson dominated the shots on net, 30-14.
    “The defense stepped it up today and lately they have really been working well together as a group,” O’Keefe added. “They were all communicating well and I am very pleased with the defensive effort today.”
   O’Keefe noted Douty’s stellar play on offense, seizing the opportunity to perform in adverse conditions during tournament time, against a worthy opponent.
   “It’s great to see the underclassmen be aggressive,” O’Keefe said. “That’s the most (goals) in a game for Meg and I’m really proud of the way she played.”
    Rumson took a commanding 8-2 first-half lead as Torcivia scored four goals at 23:17, 10:33, 4:27 and the last goal of the first half with 11 ticks left on the clock.
    “Leighann is an incredible athlete and she is so fast,” Belmonte said of the senior leader. 
    O'Keefe and her teammates are eager for the next contest and hope to go after the top-seeded Blue Devils of Shore Regional.
     "We want to get that title so bad," Belmonte said. "If we just do all the small things right and play our game we'll be able to stay with Shore, and I think we'll be able to edge it out."

 

Box Score

(2) Rumson-Fair Haven 14, (7) Toms River North 6

Rumson-Fair Haven (13-2) 8 6 - 14
Toms River North (12-5) 2 4 - 6

Goals: (RFH) Torcivia 5, Belmonte 3, Douty 3, Eastwood, Nociolo, Losnefski; (TRN) Reinecke 2, Mosko, Segalla, Testa, Coffey
Assists: (RFH) Nociolo 2, Belmonte, Eastwood (TRN) Reinecke
Saves: (RFH) Phillips 3;  (TRN) Worton 9
Shots: Rumson-Fair Haven 30-14