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Inside: Standings, statistics and Wednesday's results

No player on the Buena Regional High School field hockey team has ever been in a state playoff game, but that humbling situation will end in two weeks.

Following three losing seasons, the Chiefs are 9-4 and have qualified for the South Jersey Group II playoffs for the first time since 2005. The playoffs don't begin until Oct. 29, but Buena will be above .500 by next Wednesday's cutoff.

"We almost made it to the playoffs the last two years (when Buena was 7-10-1 in 2007 and 8-10-1 last year), but we were very young," said Buena coach Barb Meyrick, now in her 34th season.

"Last year we had to throw a lot of freshmen to the wolves, but you have to go with your best players. We're still pretty young, but we've been making improvements."

The Chiefs are led by junior left inner Karlie Gruccio, a three-year starter who is second in The Press area with 23 goals.

"We're doing a lot better this year," Gruccio said. "We're getting more experience and we're bonding well. We started a lot of younger players last year. I thought we'd have a good season this year. I've been in a playoff game in softball but never in field hockey. It was one of our goals from the beginning of the season to make the playoffs."

The Chiefs averaged two goals per game last fall and were shut out seven times. This year, the team averages just more than three goals and has been shut out once.

"When we went to camp this year we worked on scoring and following your shots," Jessica Zwaan (four goals), a senior right wing, said. "The playoffs will be a good experience for everyone."

Marisa Pastore, a senior right inner, added, "We're working well on offense and defense, and Karlie has had a great year. I'm really looking forward to my first playoff game."

Other Buena leaders are senior center back Anna Simone, junior midfielders Brittany Goeller and Gina Rios, sophomore left halfback Rachel Heath and sophomore goalie Christina Bashenko (five shutouts).

A look back

Atlantic City upset Millville 2-1 last Friday, and the Vikings beat Vineland 6-1 Tuesday.

Pinelands Regional (11-4) is having one of its best seasons in several years. Kelsey Barr and Carolyn Marrone top the Wildcats with 11 and 10 goals, respectively.

Lacey Township, with balanced scoring, has two wins over Pinelands and a 1-1 tie with Southern Regional.

Games to watch

Atlantic City (4-9) at Egg Harbor Township (6-4), 4 p.m. today.

The Vikings try to make it three wins in a row, but EHT has played well after a 1-2 start.

Holy Cross (9-3) at Ocean City (12-1), noon Saturday

Holy Cross, a traditional Burlington County League power, will try to upset the Red Raiders.

E-mail Guy Gargan:

ggargan@pressofac.com

Standings

Cape-Atlantic League

American Conference

Div. Conf. Over.

Division I

Egg Harbor Twp. 3-1 6-4 6-4

Millville 4-2 6-4 7-5

Absegami 4-2 5-5-1 5-5-1

Atlantic City 3-4 3-8 4-9

Vineland 0-5 0-10 1-11

Division II

Ocean City 5-0 11-0 12-1

Mainland Regional 3-2 7-3-1 8-3-1

Hammonton 2-2 7-4 8-4

Oakcrest 0-6 2-9 3-10

National Conference

Division I

Lower Cape May 4-0 8-2 8-2

Buena Regional 3-1 6-4 9-4

Middle Township 2-3 5-5 5-8

Bridgeton 0-5 0-9 0-9

Division II

Holy Spirit 5-0 10-0 12-1

St. Joseph 3-2 8-2 8-3

Wildwood Catholic 1-3 2-8 2-8

Sacred Heart 0-4 0-9 0-10

Shore Conference

Southern Regional 11-0-2

Lacey Township 11-2-1

Pinelands Regional 11-4

Barnegat 2-9

Tri-County Conference

Cumberland Regional 3-7-2

Leaders

Leading scorers: Colleen Slaughter, Ocean City, 31; Karlie Gruccio, Buena Regional, 23; Megan DeMarco, St. Joseph, 17; Emily Bowker, Southern Regional, 14; Jessica Giaccone, Holy Spirit, 13; Lindsey Obermeier, Lower Cape May Regional, 12; Jenn Staab, Ocean City 12; Liz Cruz, Ocean City, 11; Allison Salvati, Hammonton, 11; Joanna Persiano, Holy Spirit, 10; Savana Biren, Oakcrest, 10; Jenn Eisenberg, Mainland Regional, 10; Kelsey Barr, Pinelands, 10; Carolyn Marrone, Pinelands Regional, 10; Marybeth Keeler, 10, Lower Cape May.

Shutouts: Natalie Hunter, Ocean City, 9; Rachel Sayer, St. Joseph, 6; Megan Ramos, Southern, 6; Kendall Griffin, PInelands, 6; Tara Spears, Millville, 5; Nicolette Pizzo, Cumberland Regional, 5.

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