G-A field hockey team rebounds from loss
The first blemish on the season record was quickly dismissed by the Greencastle-Antrim field hockey team last week.
After battling a tough Gettysburg squad to a 2-1 victory the Blue Devils were tripped up by Big Spring 1-0. Regrouping, the Devils blanked Shippensburg 4-0 to end the week and improve their record to 8-1 (4-1 MPC-Colonial Division).
G-A had gone to Gettysburg to open the season and took the Warriors own tournament from them. Gettysburg did get on the board first here on a corner play, however the Devils tied it and won it before the half was over. Danae Timmons connected on a corner play with an assist from Ashton Rockwell to knot the score and Sarah Gipe banged the cage with under five minutes to play in the first. Rockwell had another assist. The go-ahead goal fired up the Warriors who went on the attack, but G-A goalie Emiley Maiorana knocked about three shots to preserve the tally.
“With Gettysburg we knew to expect an aggressive style of play,” remarked G-A head coach Jen Everetts. “They move the ball well and command the field. I was proud of the way our team handled the circumstances by playing composed field hockey.
“Emiley played the best game I have ever seen her play today, making key saves when they are absolutely necessary. This win was an excellent confidence booster.”
Gettysburg led in shots, 9-4, and in corners, 5-4. Maiorana recorded eight saves.
G-A recorded 12 shots on goal, but none crossed the line in a 1-0 loss to Big Spring. It was the first time the Devils had been tripped up on the season. The Bulldogs made good on one of their four shots in the first half for the only score of the game. The Devils also led in corners, 10-5.
Everetts said, “We didn’t play as a team today. As a result we didn’t create as many scoring opportunities and we didn’t finish when we had the chance to do so.”
Shippensburg bore the brunt of G-A’s rebound from the loss as the Devils used their first game on the revamped Kaley Field to dump the Hounds 4-0. Sarah Gipe was the catalyst, scoring two goals and assisting on the other two. Brooke Daley and Tache Smothers recorded the other goals. Rockwell had an assist.
“I’m proud of the team for picking up the pieces from the Big Spring game and playing together once again as a team,” said Everetts. “Sarah played exceptionally well. She is creating so many scoring opportunities and was able to finish a couple of her own. Our midfield continues to work hard too, transitioning the ball up the field.”
G-A led in shots, 16-11, while Ship was awarded eight corners to four for the Devils. Maiorana made eight saves.
The junior varsity Blue Devils came up short in all three games this week, falling 2-0 to Gettysburg, 2-1 to Big Spring and 1-0 to Shippensburg. Hannah Mooers had the single goal of the week on a Bret Morgan assist.
Middle school field hockey inks victories
Riding its tournament championship the Greencastle-Antrim Middle School eighth-grade field hockey team last week blanked Big Spring 3-0 and edged Gettysburg 2-1.
Annie Powers was a scoring machine for the Blue Devils, pulling off the hat trick in the Big Spring shutout. Powers scored twice in the first half, one on an Emily Bland assist and iced it with another in the second half. Bland again assisted.
Powers scored both goals against Gettysburg, in the first half off a penalty corner and the game-winner midway through the second half.
G-A’s seventh-grade team was also on the mark last week, clubbing Big Spring 9-0 and Gettysburg 3-0. Lauren Cole and Jean Hart each put in two goals against Big Spring and scoring also came from Abigail Reitz, Karlee Powell, Morgan Clopper and Rachel Marconi.
Hart added two more goals against Gettysburg and Molly Elliott also scored.