Now that she’s back, the Mounties are hoping the sky’s the limit.

Senior midfielder Kristen McKenna returned from a wrist injury this past Friday and helped MHS crush Westwood, 7-0. But the match against the Cardinals was a tuneup for Saturday’s affair with traditionally strong New Egypt, and the locals provided some late fireworks for the win.

Senior Christine Ferguson’s rocket goal off a penalty corner came with zeroes showing on the second-half clock, pushing Montclair to a 2-1 victory over the Ocean County school. The win provided plenty of ammo for the good vibes currently circulating around the Mounties (6-0-2).

"It’s nice to have girls who can shift around for us, and it was something we had to do when Kristen was out for a while," MHS coach Mary Pat Mercuro said. "Kelly Kent and Emily Kaplan took turns playing center midfielder, and that meant other girls had to be very flexible shuffling around, and they were. When everyone can get along doing it, it makes for a real nice team."

Another injury hit Montclair against New Egypt, but this one appears to be less serious than McKenna’s. Sophomore Dakota Sikes-Keilp injured the tip of her finger early in the second half against the Warriors.

"She had it X-rayed and it isn’t broken, so hopefully she will be back at practice on Wednesday," Mercuro said this past Monday. "It’s one of the those things I think Dakota can work through, but if for some reason she can’t, it’s reassuring that we had the success we did when Kristen was injured."

After today’s 4 p.m. road match against River Dell, MHS faces two tough non-league opponents with an Essex County Tournament (ECT) semifinal match sandwiched in between. The Mounties travel to Pompton Lakes on Tuesday before hosting the winner of sixth-seeded Columbia and third-seeded Millburn as the ECT second seed at Watchung Field on Sunday, Oct. 11, at 2 p.m. On Oct. 13, No. 1 in New Jersey Oak Knoll visits Watchung at 3:30 p.m.

"Pompton and Oak Knoll are games where we really have to raise our level of play," said Mercuro. "They are on the schedule because win or lose, we are looking to improve."

New Egypt thriller

A foul committed against Montclair in the New Egypt box with three seconds remaining set up a penalty corner for the Mounties. Because a field hockey match cannot end on a penalty, MHS had an opportunity to carry out its corner until the ball changed possession, was cleared or Montclair scored.

Kaplan, a captain, teed up the ball on the endline, sending a perfect feed to Ferguson, who controlled the ball on top before blasting a shot past the New Egypt goalie for her first varsity goal.

"It was a great serve by Emily, and an even greater shot by Christine," Mercuro said. "The girls knew it was their last opportunity in the match because there isn’t overtime during independent games.

"They really delivered."

Kaplan, off a feed from Ferguson through the mouth of the goal, gave the locals a 1-0 lead during the first half. The Warriors evened the score midway through the second half off a corner, exposing an MHS weakness to Mercuro.

"From a coaching standpoint, this game showed we needed to be more aggressive defensively on our corners," she said. "New Egypt is a grass team, but they passed well when they needed to transition the ball."

Goalie Frances Peretti stopped nine shots for Montclair. Peretti, a senior, filled in for junior starter Jena Silverman, who was sick. Juniors Olivia Sage-El and Maeve O’Leary also impressed Mercuro in their ability "to raise their level of play against a tougher opponent," she said.

Mercuro, however, saved the highest praise for her recently healed captain.

"Before Westwood and heading into New Egypt, we talked about in practice how the ball has to go through Kristen in the middle," said Mercuro. "When we work through her and she is able to control the midfield, this is the best transition team I’ve had in all my time here."