Offense has been an issue for the Pirates early in the 2016 season, but that’s the key; it is still early.
Five games into the new campaign the Pirates are 2-3 overall and 1-2 in the Patriot Division following a 1-0 loss to Maple Shade on Wednesday.
“We got caught on a tough day for us in not being in it 100 percent all the time for the full 60 minutes,” head coach Gina Quaranta said. “That’s something we need to do our next game.”
Cinnaminson has now been shutout three times in five games and the loss comes after the Pirates scored seven goals in two games, both victories.
“We want to try and increase our chances as many times as we can get,” Quaranta said. “The defenders need to push the ball hard out of the circle, but we weren’t able to keep the full pressure on at the goal line to be able to get a second chance.”
It was a Patriot contest that pitted a revamped Maple Shade team against a Cinnaminson team with high expectations.
The Wildcats are now 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the Patriot.
Maple Shade scored the lone goal of the game with 19:26 left in the first half.
Cinnaminson had plenty of chances throughout the game to tie, but could not finish their shots.
“We gave ourselves a lot of opportunities and did some nice things on the field, but it has been tough for us to get the ball into the cage,” Quaranta said. “That was the challenge for us today. That’s not ultimately one thing that’s going to help you win the game.”
Maple Shade’s defense was able to limit the Pirates second and third attempts on rebounds in front of their own cage to prevent any goals.
“They had great defensive pressure in the circle,” Quaranta said. “They kept a lot of people back there and were willing to do whatever it took to get the ball out. They were not allowing us second and third chances to get the ball in the cage.”
The Wildcats offense was limited by the Pirates after their goal, keeping the game close until the final horn.
Field hockey returns to the field on Friday, September 23 with a Patriot Division contest at Pemberton at 3:45pm.
Follow Cinn City News for all the news stories in and around Cinnaminson, including exclusive coverage of Pirates sports at the high school and in-town levels. We are on Twitter and Facebook. Be sure to sign up for our daily newsletter on the homepage.
