Ocean City High School incoming sophomore Danielle Donoghue scored a pair of goals yesterday, as the New Jersey South All Stars defeated Lacrosse Monkey of Minnesota (14-6) in the U.S. Lacrosse Girls Under 15 national tournament, taking place just outside Indianapolis, Indiana.
Other Ocean City girls on the team include Emma Finnegan, Abigail Bennett, and Ashley Devlin, Abbey Fenton and Ali Hendricks.
The local team went 1-2 yesterday in pool play to finish third, behind Team 180 of Colorado, and Top Guns Purple of Long Island, New York. The local girls’ division of the tournament includes 17 different teams from around the nation.
In addition to its six players, Ocean City is also represented by the coaching staff. Mikenzie Helphenstine and Abby Mullen, are both teachers and coaches in the Ocean City school system.
New Jersey South started out “with a rough game” against one of the most talented and experienced squads in the tournament, Top Guns Purple, absorbing a 19-3 loss.
“They are from Long Island (a national lacrosse hotbed) and most of their players are members of the high school class of 2019,” Helphenstine said. “Most of our girls are from the class of 2020.”
But after that, things improved with the win over the squad from Minnesota and a very hard-fought 10-6 loss to Team 180 of Colorado.
“We showed a lot of improvement and really began playing well as a team, especially since we have been together for such a short time,” Helphenstine said.
“The girls have also enjoyed a ton of team bonding and experiences,” the coach added.
After all the results from yesterday are compiled, the teams will be seeded and go into bracket (elimination) play starting tomorrow.
In the meantime, the girls are enjoying their stay in Indy.
“Our hotel is right in downtown Indianapolis right across from Lucas Oil Stadium (home of the Indianapolis Colts),” Helphenstine said. “We have been doing some sightseeing and we’re really having a nice time,” she said.
In addition to the Ocean City girls, local members of the team include Ava Wells, Aubrey Hunter, Kira Sides and Madison Barber, all of Middle Township; Robin Spector of Mainland, Sophia Facenda of Holy Spirit and Taylor Herr of Ocean Township.
Helphenstine said the girls may go to a WNBA game tonight, but they already saw a sports legend up close.
Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current Fox Sports NFL television analyst Troy Aikman was attending the tournament to watch his daughter participate, Helphenstine said.
