Field Hockey Notebook: Mount Olive confidently moving forward

Mount Olive has overcome its inauspicious start by winning three in a row to even its record at 3-3.

After losses to Newton and West Morris, first-year head coach Kelly Churchill believes that her team began to turn the corner in a 2-1 loss to Morristown.

“Our first two losses were tough,” Churchill said. “But that loss to Morristown was devastating because we were ahead 1-0. But when Morristown tied the game, we were kind of deflated. I felt that we didn’t have the confidence yet to deal with that. The team kind of felt defeated, but they had nothing to feel defeated about.

“Over the last three games, we’ve been passing much better and playing with more confidence. The confidence in knowing that they have to give it their all, to set the tone and play their own game and to play a full 60 minutes of hockey.”

Mount Olive has rebounded nicely from the loss to Morristown with a 3-2 victory over Wallkill Valley, a 2-0 decision over Vernon and a 6-0 blanking of Parsippany Hills.

“Against Morristown, I felt that we were disappointed when they scored and just weren’t able to pick it up," Churchill said. "But now I’m seeing that. We’re getting better and we’re taking the things we’ve learned and are putting that into effect.”

Churchill was impressed with Mount Olive’s six goal output in its last game.

“One of our weaknesses from last year was that we weren’t scoring,” she said. “So for us to put six goals in last Saturday was great. The last few years I was here as an assistant coach and we used to be the ones getting beaten 8-0 and 6-0.

Mount Olive’s resurgence has been led by a triumvirate of sophomores in center mid Gina Verrone, center back Annalee Smith and left back Amber Gonzalez. Senior forward Frankie Pignataro leads the club in scoring with five goals and five assists.

Morris County Tournament

The ball gets rolling on the 2015 Morris County Tournament on Monday night with the seeding meeting in Boonton.

Madison, which won its fourth consecutive and 20th overall title last season as the No. 2 seed, along with Mendham are in contention for the top seed.

Around Morris County

Montville was able to accomplish something in its first game that it wasn’t able to do all of last season, beat a United Division opponent.  The Mustangs broke that futility streak with a with a 5-2 victory over Chatham with the help of two goals from Rachel McHale. Mendham and Morristown also compete in the United Division…….Morristown’s Diane DeSalvo, now in her 30th season, is closing in on her milestone 400th victory. The 30-year veteran has compiled a record of 397-165-61…..Mendham is off to a 7-0 start and has outscored opponents 29-2.  With one of last season’s top scorers, senior midfielder Ally Chapis (13 goals, 3 assists) sidelined with an ankle injury, players like senior midfielder Sam DiMaio have stepped up. DiMaio, who finished with eight goals last season, has already totaled eight goals and four assists in 2015.  Senior midfielder Tara Litjens has contributed six goals and five assists for the Minutemen.

Top 10

1-Madison 5-1

2-Mendham 7-0

3-Morristown 4-2

4-West Morris 2-2-1

5-Randolph 3-3-1

6-Montville 5-1

7-Morristown-Beard 3-2

8-Mountain Lakes 2-2

9-Parsippany 2-3

10-Pequannock 2-2-1

Records through Tuesday