Pocomoke Magic Run Ends With State Title

POCOMOKE- Pocomoke’s varsity field hockey team completed its remarkable, memorable run in honor of its late long-time coach Susan Pusey by winning yet another state championship last week.

Pusey passed away this summer at age 56, leaving behind a remarkable legacy at Pocomoke as varsity field hockey coach, mentor and friend. Pusey was well known and well liked far beyond the Pocomoke High School community where she led the Warriors’ dominating field hockey program since 1991. With just around 300 total students, Pocomoke is the smallest of the county’s public high schools, but pound for pound has collected more than its fair share of state championships.

After Pusey’s passing this summer, the Pocomoke varsity field hockey team rededicated its season to the late coach and matriarch and rode that wave of emotion all the way to another state championship. After winning its last 13 games, including the Bayside championship, Pocomoke entered the state 1A-East region tournament as the top seed in Section II. The Warriors beat Crisfield, 5-1, in the sectional final and beat Queen Anne’s 7-0, in the regional final to advance again to the state’s Final Four.

In the state semifinals, Pocomoke took care of Manchester Valley, 3-0, to reach the state championship again. Last Saturday night at Washington College, the Warriors blanked Patuxent, 5-0, in the 1A championship game to complete its remarkable run in honor of its late coach.

The Pocomoke High field hockey program has won 19 state championships, 16 of which came with Pusey at the helm. She won her first state championship in 1992 and reeled off five straight from 1994 to 1998. Pocomoke won again in 2001, then won a remarkable eight in a row from 2003 to 2010.