On Wednesday night, Manual’s varsity field hockey team lost 3-0 to the Ballard Bruins in a defensive heavy game where the Lady Crimsons showed resilience but were unable to break through Ballard’s strong back line.
First Half:
The game opened with Manual controlling possession early, as Lady Crimsons’ Baya Friedman (#53, 11) and Charlotte Connally (#17, 12) connected with sharp passing to move the ball up the field. However, Ballard quickly stole possession and kept the ball deep in Manual’s shooting circle. The Bruins earned the first corner of the night midway through the quarter, which they converted to take a 1-0 lead.
Manual tried to respond with fast transitions, but Ballard’s defense remained strong. Connally anchored Manual’s defense, cleared several dangerous plays and helped keep the score at one goal heading into the second quarter.
Early in the second quarter, Manual earned back-to-back corners. Despite strong setups, the Lady Crimsons couldn’t capitalize, with Ballard’s defense shutting down both opportunities. Manual’s back line continued to work hard, with Connally disrupting attacks and Manual’s defenders intercepting multiple passes, but Ballard’s offense eventually broke through again, scoring their second goal of the night.
For much of the remainder of the half, the ball went back and forth between both teams. Manual’s offense found space around Ballard’s shooting circle but couldn’t get a clean shot. By halftime, the Bruins led 2-0
Second Half:
Ballard started strong in the third quarter, and within two minutes they had extended their lead 3-0. Manual regrouped for a timeout, giving them time to reflect on plays and find a way to work around the Bruins.
A few minutes later, Ballard earned a corner play but was unsuccessful due to goalie Amina Mbacke (#78, 11) stepping in and blocking the shot, keeping Manual in the game. Manual then earned a corner of their own, but the play was shut down by the Bruin’s defense before a shot could be taken.
Later in the quarter, Ballard continued to press with another corner, but Mbacke again came up big, sliding across the goal to stop the attempt. Manual’s offense began to find a rhythm, with Mbacke pushing the ball up the field and connecting passes into Ballard territory.
To open the fourth quarter, the Lady Crimsons earned another corner but were unable to complete it. Midway through the quarter, Siyona Nagane (#14, 11) broke free for one of Manual’s best attempts of the night, but her shot was blocked by the Bruins’ goalie.
In the final minutes, the Lady Crimsons pressed hard, keeping possession near Ballard’s goal and earning another corner play. Despite their efforts, Manual couldn’t break through, and the game ended 3-0 in favor of Ballard.
“This season got a lot of potential ahead of them. We’re excited, just the growth we saw in the apple tournament last week,” Head Coach Brittany Vencilla said.
The Lady Crimsons will take on the Great Lakes Showcase at Ann Arbor, MI on Sept. 5 and 6.
