The collegiate field hockey calendar had an unusual series of occurrences between 1999 and 2013. During that time, Old Dominion and Maryland deliberately scheduled home-and-home matches — two regular-season games per season. Of course, as these are the two Division I programs with the most national championships, these were must-see matches in the field hockey calendar.
You can understand the rationale for these two quality sides to schedule each other twice per season. First off, there was the mutual respect between head coaches Beth Anders and Missy Meharg. But you can also understand the “iron sharpens iron” metaphor for these two sides; you improve playing each other rather than battering an opponent 5-0.
The last week has seen a home-and-home in a non-conference setting, but instead this occurred in the scholastic ranks. In the 2024 season, Summit Oak Knoll (N.J.) and Cherry Hill Camden Catholic (N.J.) scheduled each other twice in an eight-day span.
These two sides, which have met each other the last four state championships in the NJSIAA Non-Public bracket, had met last Saturday in Cherry Hill, with Oak Knoll parlaying an early goal into a 1-0 win. When the teams had their rematch yesterday at Drew University, Oak Knoll once again took the lead, this time from a third-quarter goal off the stick of Lilly McMahon.
Camden Catholic fought back to tie the match with 1:05 left in regulation thanks to a Brooke Mitchell goal.
This led to extra time, and with it, continued Camden Catholic pressure. The Irish forced a penalty stroke at the inception of the extra session, but Kristen Shindle came up with an impressive stick save. But later, Sophia Stazi had time and room at the doorstep to score the game-winner.
The Irish and Royals have therefore split away matches and are likely on a collision course to meet a third time depending on if both teams can make it through their respective North and South brackets to get to Bordentown in a month and a half.
Should be interesting to see what the result of that one will be.