Games People Play: Lower’s Ashley Hunt Striving Beyond 100 Goals

Lower Cape May’s Ashley Hunt netted her 100th career goal in late April but the milestone didn’t appear likely after she completed her rookie season with just 14 scores.
The junior returned strong last year and struck for a whopping 52 goals. Her fifth tally of a six-goal game in an 18-13 win over Oakcrest on April 25 brought the North Cape May resident the magical number in just her third year.
“I’m most proud of achieving this goal,” said the 17-year-old. “I set it for myself when I was a freshman in hopes of attaining it by my senior year. I was proud to just make the varsity as a freshman so getting it as a junior was like a cherry on top.”
The daughter of Michelle and Dave Hunt, Ashley was overjoyed to have all of her teammates share in the celebration
“We felt like a family,” she said. “Taking pictures and all the excitement was overwhelming.”
Hunt, who danced until sixth grade and participated in youth soccer and lacrosse growing up, is quick to credit teammates with helping to attain her individual achievement. She still considers soccer as a very enjoyable hobby.
“It takes teamwork, leadership and hard work,” she summarized. “You need practice. No one can just pick up a stick and catch the ball right away. I really do put in a lot of hard work. And our team doesn’t look past any opponent.”
The Caper-Tigers finished 12-5 and hosted their first-ever state playoff game this spring. Hunt said each of the girls, especially the upperclassmen, pushed each other to strive for better and better results. She said she saw older teammates eclipse the 100-goal mark and she took advantage of the support of her coaches and peers to reach the century total herself.
“I improved in placing my shot and becoming a better leader,” she said. “Instead of shooting and hoping it goes in I throw and fake and put it in a corner. I was selected as a team captain this year so I had to step up, take care of problems, and set a good example.”
Hunt, who works for Roman’s Pizza and Seashore Campground in the summer, said she has the most fun playing the sport with good friends, but that’s not her sole source of enjoyment in lacrosse.
“Playing in the rain,” she said, “that’s always fun.”
Hunt’s dedication is also present in the classroom. She understands the need to effectively juggle the sticks and the books. “It’s most challenging to balance school work with travel time and playing,” she said. “It’s difficult but you must do it. I set up each week on Monday. I know when I’ll be doing homework, when I’ll be studying and when I’ll be at tournaments or heading up to Washington Township for my travel team. It’s worth it.”
Hunt plays for the South Jersey Devils throughout the summer in very competitive travel lacrosse. The squad consists of high-level players from various South Jersey schools. After next season she plans to take her game to the Gray Wolves of Lourdes University in Ohio where she earned a scholarship. Hunt looks to major in biology on the path to becoming a physical therapist.
“The Lourdes team was really welcoming and nice and they’re a new program as of 2014 and they are improving,” said Hunt. “I want to be the person to help turn their team around and make it more competitive. And on top of it all they had really nice apartment style dorms that come furnished.”
She won’t be sitting around with senioritis come September. She’ll approach her final season at Lower Cape May with the same intensity, which has garnered her individual and team success thus far.
“My goals for my senior year include attending the police academy and keeping up the grades,” she said. “I’m also striving to beat the school record of 207 goals set by Lindsay Lare.”