THE SPORTS DESK
Battlefield Field Hockey: Black’s third goal sparks JM celebration
FOXES WIN CONSOLATION GAME IN OT
BY JUSTIN RICE
In terms of Region I tournament pairings, Wednesday’s Battlefield District field hockey final was meaningless. Regular-season champion Chancellor is the district’s top seed; James Monroe is No. 2.
But when it comes to confidence and pride, the Jackets’ come-from-behind overtime win couldn’t have been more meaningful.
Senior Allison Black scored three goals for JM, which rallied from a 2–0 deficit to beat the Chargers, 3-2, and claim the district tournament title at King George High School on Wednesday.
Both teams will host Region I quarterfinal games Monday, but for James Monroe—a team hit hard by injuries in the last two weeks—it’ll be with a little extra momentum.
“It’s exciting,” JM coach Jamie Tierney said. “No matter what, we’re No. 2 [in the region]. But this is a great warm-up for next week.”
Chancellor’s Chelsea Galera redirected a shot by Kate Colley for a 1–0 lead four minutes into the game and Galera dribbled along the baseline and fed Chloe Fernandez for a point-blank goal and a 2–0 advantage with 10:44 left in the first half.
But five minutes before halftime, JM’s Hannah Fisher hit a long pass to LC King in the Chancellor circle, and she crossed to Black, who finished to cut the margin in half.
Black tied the game with 5:37 left in regulation, scoring with a wonderful individual play after King’s long pass set up a breakaway.
The game-winner came after both teams had missed on solid overtime chances to finish the game.
Fisher received the insert pass on a penalty corner, and dumped the ball down to Black, standing to the left side of the goal. Her shot banged into the cage, sparking James Monroe’s loud celebration.
“It was a great game. JM played hard. We played hard,” Chancellor coach Jim Larkin said. “If we finish, it’s not a problem. But we didn’t and they did, and hopefully we’ll take something away from that.”
CONSOLATION GAME
KING GEORGE 2, COURTLAND 1 (OT)
King George was already assured the first Region I tournament berth in school history. Even better for the Foxes: They’ll play in Monday’s quarterfinals coming off a win.
Mia Meyer converted a penalty stroke two minutes into the second overtime, lifting the Foxes in the consolation game.
Meyer’s opportunity for a stroke came when junior Meghan Yanchulis was fouled carrying the ball into Courtland’s circle on a breakaway. Meyer hit the free shot hard and to the left, past the diving Courtland goalie.
Yanchulis had given King George a 1–0 lead in the first half, scoring off a rebound from a hard shot by Meyer.
Courtland answered midway through the second when Taylor Ryan scored off a quick restart at the top of King George’s circle.
The Cougars will play at four-time state champion Tabb on Monday in the region quarterfinals. King George doesn’t know whom it will face, but the Foxes celebrated yesterday their chance to add on to what has already been the most successful hockey season in school history.
“We’re really built on teamwork and just a family atmosphere,” King George coach Dianna Blair said. “It’s been a long time coming. These girls deserve it. They’ve worked so hard.”
Justin Rice: 540/368-5045
jrice@freelancestar.com
