by Steve Bradley
On Friday the Greenwich Witches came to HFCS to battle the Panther field hockey team for first place in the WASAREN league. The Panthers beat the Witches 3 – 1 in their first meeting. Greenwich’s plan was to pull off a win and be in a first place tie with the Panthers.
It didn’t take long for the Panthers to dash any hope of that.
[private]Right off the bat, the Panthers’ aggressive offense took control of the game. The Panthers took the ball down into the Witches’ goal area and kept it there, pounding the ball at the Greenwich goalie. With just over two minutes gone in the game, Brooke Davendonis got a shot past the Witches’ goalie to record the Panthers’ first goal.
When the ball was put back into play, the Panthers once again got deep into the Witches’ end of the field and started attacking the Greenwich goalie with shot after shot. Less than three minutes after the first goal, the Ladies struck wood again with a goal by Olivia Schneider. With less than five minutes gone, the Panthers’ lead was 2 – 0.
Three minutes later Ally Burdick shot the ball in for another score. Later in the half Lizza Ryan got a goal and put the Panthers up 4 – 0. Greenwich regrouped and scored before the first half ended. At the break, the Panthers held a 4 – 1 advantage.
The second half was evenly played. Each team had scoring opportunities but could not capitalize. Neither team scored in the second half, and the game ended with the Panthers in sole possession of first place in the WASAREN league standings.
On Wednesday, October 9, Corinth visited the Panther home field. The Panthers added another notch in the win column. In first half action, Carsen Williams put a shot in goal at the 26 minute mark with an assist from Lizza Ryan. Four minutes later Williams returned the favor by assisting Ryan on a goal. Ryan added one more goal in the second half. Ashley St. Onge had zero saves. That translates to: Corinth never got a shot on goal.
The Panthers are now 12 – 0 league, 14 – 0 overall.
The schedule this week has the Ladies headed up to Warrensburg on Friday, October 11, for a 4:30 pm game. On Wednesday, October 16, the team will host North Warren at Delurey Field with a 4:30 pm start.[/private]