It was not easy, but Tabb’s Lady Tigers won the AA Region 1 field hockey title Friday night, 2-1, in overtime against Chancellor.
The game went into a seven-on-seven overtime period, and with 4:40 left on the clock, senior forward Alison Harmatz took a corner pass from Melissa Progar and sent it into the cage for the game winner. Earlier, Harmatz scored the game’s first goal.
The contest was played at Poquoson Middle School Stadium due to a flooded field at Tabb. The Lady Tigers reached the finals by defeating Courtland 7-0 and Grafton 5-0. Chancellor beat York 8-1 and Bruton 3-0.
“That is the best team we have played in four years,” said Tabb’s head coach Wendy Wilson, describing Chancellor. “We may well see them again next week in the state tournament.”
Tabb dominated the game, getting off more shots and playing in Chancellor’s end of the field. But the first half ended at 0-0.
Tabb again took control of the game in the second half, repeatedly getting shots on the goal. Chancellor’s goalie Johnni Tillman stopped the repeated shots from Tabb, with seven saves on the night. Tabb took a total of 22 shots, with several missing the mark and others being deflected by defenders. The visitors managed just five shots.
Finally, with 7:17 left in regulation, Harmatz scored her first goal, a short shot from just in front of the net. It appeared the one score would be enough for the victory, but the Lady Chargers were not finished yet. Junior Kate Colley drilled in a shot with 3:09 on the clock and it was 1-1. The teams soon went to overtime and Wilson said it was her team’s first OT battle of the season.
Speaking of the winning goal, Harmatz said, “It was a well-executed corner feed from Melissa and I got it in.”
Tabb kept its record perfect at 22-0 and earned a bye in next week’s state tournament in Virginia Beach. The Lady Tigers were 24-0 last season and can equal that mark. They must win two games to earn their fifth straight state championship. Their winning streak is actually even longer, since they won the last few games of the 2010 season. Chancellor’s Lady Chargers fell to 17-4 but will also play at Virginia Beach. As Wilson pointed out, the two teams could meet again.
Grafton Edges Bruton in Double OT
For the second game in a row, Grafton’s field hockey team needed overtime to outlast Bruton.
And once again, it was Kaylee Maunz who provided the game-winner.
After edging the Panthers 1-0 in overtime of last week’s Bay Rivers District semifinals, the Clippers pulled out another overtime win, this one in double OT, Friday night in the Region I tournament consolation game.
Kaylee Maunz scored the goal off a breakaway with a little over two minutes left in the second overtime period. It was Maunz’s third game-winner in OT in the last four games.
The victory earned Grafton, the reigning state runner-ups, a return trip to the Group AA state tournament. They’ll play Chancellor, 2-1 losers against Tabb in OT, in Tuesday’s state quarterfinals at the National Training Center in Virginia Beach.
