Chatham finally reclaimed the Morris County Tournament field hockey championship on October 27, defeating two-time defending champions Madison 2-1. This 2-1 victory, sealed by a clutch rebound goal, marks the Cougars’ sixth MCT title and their first since 2023, making it a monumental moment for senior co-captain Ava Ewing. The win capped a massive nine-game winning streak for Chatham, which has been red-hot since October 5.
From Freshman Fear to Senior Leader, Ava Ewing’s Full-Circle Moment
This win was pure magic, especially for senior co-captain Ava Ewing, who plays defensive midfield and plans to take her talents to Brown University. She told everyone how great this feeling is, reflecting on her freshman year when she was honestly “scared to be on the field” during the MCT final. That year, the Cougars grabbed the title, and the happiness stuck with her. Now, as a leader, Ewing made sure her teammates understood both the fear and the sheer joy of this moment against Madison. “It’s so awesome. I’m so happy,” Ewing said, adding, “It’s so different being a leader. I was the one looking up to everyone freshman year. I was trying to play based on the people around me. But now, I’m bringing my teammates confidence.” The celebration was epic too, with the field hockey bus met by a police escort back through town, just like the Chatham girls soccer team did a few days earlier.
Chazen’s Clutch Goals Slay the Defending Champs
The hero of the night, no question, was senior forward Molly Chazen. She delivered both Chatham goals and earned the offensive MVP award for the final, and she’s already verbally committed to Colgate. Her first strike came from the right side midway through the third quarter. But Madison wasn’t giving up their crown easily. Senior Celia Stuart tied things up less than five minutes later, blasting a clean hit from about 10 yards out. The tension was cranked to eleven. Then, Chazen did it again, poking home an opportunistic rebound for the game winner. Talk about clutch! It’s a “full circle moment” for Chazen, whose older sister, Emmy Chazen, scored the winning goal back in 2023 when Chatham beat Madison. “She’s a big role model for me,” Molly Chazen said, and you can definitely see why.
Madison, to their credit, came into this final as the two-time defending champions and on a four-match winning streak themselves. These two teams have been battling for supremacy, winning all but one of the past nine MCT titles. Many of these players even know each other from their club teams, like Centercourt and New Heights, which only dials up the intensity. “It definitely makes it more intense, because we know how everyone plays,” Chazen explained. “Knowing the other players makes it more high stakes.” After the final buzzer, despite Madison’s tears, there were hugs and words of consolation exchanged between the rivals.
With the Morris County Tournament plaque secured, Chatham is now looking ahead to the NJSIAA Tournament. After reeling off nine straight wins and proving they can beat the best, they’re entering the state tournament with a massive target on their back and all the momentum in the world. Get ready, New Jersey, the Cougars are roaring!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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