CAMDEN – A simple late-game position change was the difference in Wednesday’s Tri Valley League field hockey clash between Camden and Whitesboro.
Junior forward Marlee Christmas moved from right inner to left wing and scored two quick goals to break a 1-1 deadlock in the Blue Devils’ 3-2 victory over the Warriors. The goals were the first of Christmas’ short three-game varsity career and gave a young Camden team a big early-season victory.
“It’s awesome,” said Christmas. “I went to the far post on both goals and the ball came to me. It’s definitely a good experience. I had to prove myself because that’s a new position, and I guess I did.”
Camden’s Marlee Christmas (left) and Delaney Alberico (right) celebrate what would become Camden’s game winning goal by Christmas. (Photo By – Jeff Pexton – Perfect Game Imaging).
With the game tied 1-1, Camden head coach Shannon McPheron called a timeout with 6:33 remaining and had Christmas and sophomore star Delaney Alberico switch positions. That move worked out beautifully for Camden (2-1) as Christmas scored at 5:32 and 3:55 and the Blue Devils were able to stave off a furious rally by the Warriors.
“With such a young group I have to pick times to use strategic time outs,” McPheron said. “The last two games it worked. Last game we tied it after a timeout and today we went ahead.”
Christmas’ first goal came off a beautiful setup as senior attack Kennedy Steria hit Alberico with a perfect feed from the right sideline. Alberico then moved in and hit Christmas who buried the first goal of her career.
Camden’s Mercedes Currie (5) battles Whitesboro’s Lexi Scaccia (1) during first half action. (Photo By – Jeff Pexton – Perfect Game Imaging).
Just 1:37 later, Steria, who had a goal and an assist, charged toward Whitesboro’s net and placed another nice pass to Christmas for a needed insurance goal.
“A lot of credit goes to Kennedy Steria for making those passes,” McPheron said. “She was really big for us.”
The Warriors (1-1, 3-1), who came into the game outscoring opponents 15-2, wouldn’t go away quietly. Thirty seconds after falling behind 3-1, junior forward Claire Wiley scored to cut the deficit in half. The Warriors kept the pressure on Camden over the final 3:25 and had a penalty corner after the clock expired, but Camden stopped the attempt to get a big victory over a tough, veteran team.
Whitesboro’s Claire Wiley (11) fires a chot during second half action. (Photo By-Jeff Pexton – Perfect Game Imaging).
“This seems to be the theme of our season,” McPheron said. “It’s our third game and all have come down to the final minutes. We have only three seniors and are pretty young, so I knew going against Whitesboro would be tough. They have 12 seniors, a very knowledgeable coach and what stands out with them is the intensity they play with the entire game. That was something we needed to match.”
The Warriors got on the board first as senior forward Morgan LeBuis, who banged home a rebound from the left post just 3:37 into the game. Steria’s reverse sweep for a goal with 10:30 remaining in the first half tied the game for the Blue Devils.
Whitesboro’s Jessica Mahardy and Camden’s Mariah Mix each made four saves and were solid in goal for their respective teams.
Camden’s Kennedy Sterio (7) works hard down low against Whitesboro goallie Jess Mahardy (54). Photo By Jeff Pexton – Perfect Game Imaging
In what figures to be a topsy-turvy season of field hockey in the Tri Valley League, both Whitesboro and Camden are now chasing RFA, which defeated Camden 5-4 Tuesday and improved to 2-0 in the league with a 3-1 win at New Hartford.
Today it wasn’t our best and wasn’t our worst,” LaValley said. “I have 12 seniors, good depth and my defense is solid.
“What I will say is that we are now transitioning from a grass team to a turf team,” LaValley added about now playing their home games on a brand new turf field. “As a transition, it’s something we really have to work on.”
Camden is young, but has won four of the last seven sectional titles in Class B. The Warriors are loaded with experience and head coach Renee LaValley believes her team has what it takes to have a memorable season.
“A goal is to be league champions,” LaValley said. “It’s early and we have a chance to accomplish our goals.
Camden 3, Whitesboro 2
Whitesboro (1-1, 3-1): Morgan LeBuis 1-0, Claire Wiley 1-0. Jessica Mahardy 4 saves.
Camden (2-1, 2-1): Marlee Christmas 2-0, Kennedy Steria 1-1, Delaney Alberico 0-1, Mercedes Currie 0-1. Mariah Mix 4 saves.
Nick Sardina is a writer for midyorksportsreport.com. Follow Nick onTwitter @nsardinamysr or on Facebook. Contact him via email at
