Toms River-based under-19 field hockey team shines at showcase

The Toms River-based Phoenix Elite Field Hockey Club’s under-19 field hockey team went 5-0 and finished in first place in its pool at the Shooting Stars Jamboree National College Showcase in Milford, Delaware last weekend.

The team, which is comprised of players from Central Regional, Southern Regional, Toms River High School South, Rancocas Valley and Washington Township high schools, outscored its opposition 23-3. The goal total and goal differential were both the best of the 46 teams in the tournament.

The five matches, which were played over a 24-hour span, were against teams from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C. and Michigan.

“We could not be more proud of this group of young women. They displayed impressive teamwork, trust and skill over the course of the tournament,” Phoenix Elite co-owners Robin Meaney and Laurie Temple said in a statement. “Their play was beautiful - probably the best we have ever seen from this group. It was an incredible way for our seniors to go out. So very well-deserved.”

All eight of the team’s seniors will play field hockey at the collegiate level this fall, Meaney and Temple said.

Team members are:

Emma Bianco (Central); Melissa Bickford (Central); RyAnn Dunn (Central); Emma Mitchell (Central); Sianna Valderde (Central); Gianna Urcinole (Central); Jessica Bruther (Southern); Leigha Clapp (Southern); Emily Caporrino (Southern); Leigha Clapp (Southern); Leah Newton (Southern); Moorea Scott (Southern); Mallory Higham (Toms River South); Abbey Wilber (Toms River South); Gianna Blaylock (Washington Township and Kiley Bowker (Rancocas Valley).

Bruther was a Shore Conference Field Hockey Coaches Association First Team All-Shore selection last season.

The team is coached by Madison Stuerze, an alumnus of Pinelands.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Shore NJ field hockey: Toms River under-19 wins at Shooting Stars Jamboree