On Thursday night, Manual’s varsity field hockey team lost 2-0 to the Christian Academy of Louisville (CAL) Centurions in the state quarterfinal game.
First Half:
The game started out with quick offensive plays by CAL players, where Madelyn Frazee (#14, 12) shot the ball. It was then blocked by the Manual defense and goalie, Eleanor Holder (#90, 12).
CAL ended up getting their first corner of the night a few minutes later, where that too was stopped by members of Manual’s defense, Stella Shuman (#16,10) and Naomi Fields (#2, 11).
Manual’s defense held strong once again when CAL’s shot was blocked and hit out for another corner. Manual’s Kinsley Yerkes (#8,10) then blocked that shot off the corner.
Later on in the quarter, CAL gained a stroke but the shot was blocked by the Lady Crimson’s goalie, Holder.
Manual’s Chloe Cochran (#33,10) then got the ball and took the ball all the way up the field into CAL territory. Despite this, the Lady Centurions’ defense held her off, stopping her attack.
Right before the end of the first quarter, CAL’s offense had several back-to-back attacks on the Manual goal. Those attacks were defended and stopped by the Lady Crimsons’ Charlotte Connally (#17,11).
“Going into the game, we were feeling prepared and ready because of all of the work we had put in throughout the season,” Connally said.
Yerkes then blocked two shots from CAL and passed the ball up to the Lady Crimsons’ offense.
Once CAL regained possession of the ball, a pass was made right in front of the Manual goal and knocked away by both Mali Bucher (#31,12) and Yerkes.
The Lady Centurions’ Lauren Sloan (#7,8) then attempted a shot, but Holder slid in and blocked her shot.
The Lady Crimsons then had several lengthy passes up the field to CAL’s goal, but their possession was ended when CAL hit the ball up and away from their goal.
Manual’s Sophie Habeeb (#11,10) defended against the Lady Centurions’ offense and passed the ball up the field to Manual’s offense, which too was taken back by CAL.
At the end of the second quarter, the score was tied 0-0.
Second Half:
To start the third quarter, Manual’s Cochran sprinted up the field, taking the ball down the field. She was stopped by the CAL defense, though.
Habeeb then defended against the Lady Centurions’ headstrong offense and was able to pass the ball up to Cochran, but it was lost out of bounds. As such, CAL regained possession.
Manual then had a corner where Yerkes shot the ball, but her shot was blocked by the CAL defense.
When CAL regained possession, they had another shot that was blocked, this time saved by Bucher and Manual’s goalie, Holder.
The Lady Centurions got two shots off corners, but both were stopped and saved by Manual’s goalie.
Later on, CAL attempted another shot on the Lady Crimsons’ goal that was stopped by Yerkes, who then hit it back up the field.
Once CAL regained possession of the ball, Amelia Ohr (#6, 9) shot the ball into the bottom corner of the Manual goal, the first goal of the night. The score went up to 1-0, with CAL in the lead late in the fourth quarter.
CAL then got the ball again, going through the Lady Crimsons’ territory where McKenna Lacy (#12, 10) shot the ball up to the top of the Manual goal, scoring. This goal brought the score up to 2-0.
With the time winding down, Manual’s Dawson Packwood (#3, 12) attempted to breach CAL’s defense, but was unsuccessful. The game ended seconds later.
“We all love each other like sisters and family, and it is such a privilege to play with my teammates every day,” Connally said.
CAL now advances to the state semifinals with the win, while this loss concludes the 2024 season for Manual’s varsity field hockey team.
