Field Hockey Delivers 300th Win For Coach McPheron

Wednesday, October 14th was a special night at the Camden High School Stadium as the Camden High School varsity field hockey team played host to Oneida in a Tri-Valley League matchup. The Blue Devils scored early and often to secure Head Coach Shannon McPheron’s 300th head coaching win by a 10-1 score. 

Camden improves to 6-8-1 overall and has won back-to-back games heading into its regular season finale at Vernon-Verona-Sherrill on Monday, October 19th. 

In her 26th season at the helm, the Rome Sports Hall of Famer is 300-144-2 as a varsity field hockey coach, and has earned every single result at Camden High School. Before starting her varsity-level tenure, she spent one season coaching the junior varsity at her alma mater, Rome Free Academy. She is known to be the winningest head coach of a single sports team in Camden’s history. 

McPheron’s teams have won 11 sectional titles, 13 league titles, 2 regional championships and have reached 2 state semifinals. 

For the longtime Blue Devils bench boss, the milestone’s gravitas goes beyond any tally. 

“This represents a lifetime of memories, and a legacy that will always mean more than the number itself,” she said. 

In the evening’s contest, the Blue Devils racked up a 4-0 lead in the first quarter, and added three more before halftime. Adriana Smith led the way with two goals and two assists, Gracie Loomis finished her night with two goals and an assist, and Natalie Gonzalez added two assists as well. Rylee Willson, Aubree Turk, Zerahia Wilson, and Abby Hebble scored one goal each. 

In goal, Katherine Dean played the majority of minutes and made three saves before turning the net over to HadleyRose Pickett, who closed out the game. Pickett’s mother, LeeRose Hannon-Pickett, was actually McPheron’s starting goalkeeper for her first win as Camden’s head coach.