This past Tuesday night, Manual’s varsity field hockey team ruled the field against South Oldham, beating the Dragons 8-0.
First Half
The first half started with South Oldham gaining possession, but Manual quickly gained the ball back, moving up the field. Within the first 2 minutes, Manual’s Chloe Cochran (#33,10) took the ball up and scored first for the Crimsons. The score was now 1-0, with Manual in the lead.
The Dragons did fight back, however, pressing against the Crimsons’ defense multiple times. Manual’s defense was on top, though, stopping two attacks by the Dragons, including a big breakaway.
Manual’s Charlotte Connally (#17, 11) got the ball shortly afterwards and attempted a shot, but missed. The stray ball was then picked up by Dawson Packwood (#3, 12) who scored the goal, making the score now 2-0.
Similar to the first few minutes of the game, the ball was passed back and forth across the field, but the Lady Crimsons gained an advantage when they defended a South Oldham breakaway and got the ball back. Naomi Fields (#2, 11) then passed up the side of the field where Cochran picked up the ball, shooting it past the goalie’s left for another goal. The score was now 3-0, with the Lady Crimsons in the lead.
Afterwards, Cochran (#33, 10) then took the ball all the way up the field and passed across the goal to Packwood (#3, 12) who had the ball, but then lost it. Fortunately, Caitlyn Staebler (#41, 11) got the ball back and scored her first goal, increasing Manual’s lead.
The Crimsons had yet another breakaway that ended with Cochran (#33, 10) tapping the ball into the ball for another goal, marking Cochran’s second goal. The Lady Crimsons now led the Dragons, 5-0.
In retaliation, the Dragons made several attempts on Manual’s goal. The Lady Crimsons’ defense remained strong, however as one shot was blocked by Fields (#2, 11) and the another by goalie Eleanor Holder (#90, 12), during a corner. Shortly after, halftime was called.
Second Half
Determined to score, South Oldham came out strong in the beginning of the second half, but the Manual offense fought back and retrieved the ball. Packwood (#3, 12) took the ball up the side of the field and passed to Cochran (#33, 10) who attempted to shoot from across the goal. The ball went wide, however, missing the goal.
Charlotte Connally (#17, 11) and Jane Fishback (#22, 12) both attempted shots on goal but were blocked by South Oldham’s defense. Connally (#17, 11) then took the ball back from the Dragons’ defense, where she rushed down the field, shooting the ball and scoring her first goal. Manual now led, 6-0.
“I felt like I set my teammates up for success,” Connally (#17, 11) said after her contributions on the field.
To end the 3rd quarter, the Crimsons received a corner where Claire Dixon (#6, 12) attempted to score a goal, but the ball went wide. In response, Connally (#17, 11) took the stray ball and scored her second goal of the night. Shortly after, the quarter ended, with Manual heading the 4th quarter, leading South Oldham, 7-0.
With futile attempts from both teams, there was a scoring drought towards the end of the game. However, both teams took shots, including South Oldham’s Carlee Lindenmier (#16, 10) and the Manual’s Lucy Vanderhoff (#1, 12), who both had near attempts to score.
The drought was brought to an end by Manual’s Caitlyn Staebler (#41, 11), who turned in front of the goal, shot the ball into the air and scored. Manual then led South Oldham 8-0, where the score remained the same until the end of the game.
“We are very motivated and focused athletes. It doesn’t matter who we play. We play our game,” said Chloe Cochran (#33, 10), when she was asked to reflect on the game and the team’s mentality.
Manual’s field hockey team will play this upcoming weekend in Gateway Classic in St. Louis, Missouri. Their next home game will be against Assumption on Thursday, Sept. 4 at 7:30 p.m.
