ANDREW GARDA/STAFF
by Andrew Garda
garda@montclairlocal.news
Both Montclair High School and Montclair Kimberley Academy’s field hockey teams advanced to the semi-final rounds of the Essex County Tournament.
After powering past 8-seed Livingston by a score of 8-0 in the first round, the 5-seed Cougars faced off against 4-seed Millburn. Goalie GiGi Jacobson stood tall between the posts, saving six shots to keep a 1 goal lead late in the game. Sophomore Natalia Eichmann found the back of the net for MKA off a pass from senior Alix Talkow.
It was Eichman’s fourth goal of the year and Talkow’s eight assist.
The Cougars now face top-seeded West Essex on Saturday, October 14 at 11:30am. The two met once before in the very first game of the season, with West Essex coming out on top 5-2.
Meanwhile, the 3-seed Mounties were coming off a first round bye as they faced 6-seed Mount St. Dominic.
Freshman Fiona Campbell started off things off with a shot from the far circle for a goal to put the Mounties up 1-0. Then, near the end of the first half, senior Sam Van Siclen scored off a corner, putting MHS up 2-0 at the half.
Once the teams returned, the Mounties stalled offensively until senior Missy Wrede put the ball in the net, sealing a 3-0 win and a date in the semifinals with 2-seed Glen Ridge.
It’s the second time the two have met this season, with their previous match ended in a scoreless tie.
Campbell’s goal was her third on the year, while Van Siclen’s score was her seventh and Wrede put in her ninth.
If either the Mounties or Cougars win the next round, they will find themselves in the finals on October 21. MHS and MKA have already met once in the regular season, with the Mounties winning 2-1 in overtime.