After playing holding Christchurch scoreless in regulation, Walsingham Academy allowed an early overtime goal to drop Tuesday’s home contest 1-0.
Despite the loss, Walsingham Academy showed toughness and grit through the full 70 minutes of play.
After an evenly-played first half, both teams began making deep runs into the other’s circle.
Walsingham Academy goalkeeper Sydney Griffith kept the Trojans in the game, recording six saves during regulation, including a big save with 10:56 left in the second half.
A Christchurch penalty corner resulted in a hard shot that was turned away by Griffith at the last second.
The final 10 minutes of the first half belonged to Walsingham. The Trojans began stringing runs together and had open looks inside the Christchurch circle. Unfortunately for Walsingham, the Christchurch defense closed down on any open looks quickly and shut them down.
Walsingham finished regulation with more penalty corners than Christchurch, but the Trojans were unable to generate any shots on goal during the opening 60 minutes of play.
With the game knotted at 1-1 heading into overtime, the Trojans faced adversity in the form of injuries. Both Griffith and Allison Schubring went down with injuries in overtime — Griffith had the wind knocked out of her while making a save and Schubring was hit in the stomach with the ball.
Both players managed to tough out their injuries and continue playing, but their toughness did not stop Christchurch from finding the back of the cage.
With 8:45 left in the 10-minute overtime period, Pendo Mugofwa of Christchurch found herself with a breakaway opportunity. Mugofwa streaked down the field with no defenders in front of her, dribbled into the circle and slotted the ball past Griffith for the game’s only goal.
The Trojans had chances to counter during overtime, however. Walsingham found itself in a similar breakaway situation, though the Christchurch goalkeeper shut down the scoring chance.
With less than two minutes to play, Walsingham’s Kelli Mitrovic was unable to get her stick on a pass that would have resulted in a point-blank shot on an open net.
The missed opportunities eventually sank Walsingham as the Trojans were unable to find an equalizer before the clock struck zeroes.
“I saw a lot of passion. They haven’t fought that hard in a really long time,” Walsingham Coach Hilary St. Mary said. “Regardless of the score, I thought they really stepped up and they played their hearts out.”
The loss marks Walsingham’s second 1-0 loss to Christchurch this season. The Trojans (1-7) are currently in the middle of a seven-game losing skid after winning their season opener against St. Margaret’s.
Walsingham will seek to get back on track when the Trojans host Nansemond-Suffolk Academy on Thursday.
Christchurch 1, Walsingham Academy 0
Goals: Christchurch (Pendo Mugofwa)
Tabb’s field hockey team narrowly took down Grafton 1-0 on the road Tuesday.
The Tigers got on the board thanks to a goal from Izzy Solaroli, who was assisted by Courtney Fiest.
While Grafton goalkeeper Laurel Nicks allowed the game’s lone goal, she also logged 13 saves in an impressive performance against one of the best teams in the state.
Tabb (6-1) will look to build on a two-game win streak against Bruton at home Thursday. Grafton (2-4) will continue its season at home against New Kent on Thursday.
Tabb 1, Grafton 0
Goals: Tabb (Izzy Solaroli)
Assists: Tabb (Courtney Fiest)
The Bruton field hockey team got a solid performance from Bri Smith, who scored one goal and added an assist, during Tuesday’s 2-1 home win against New Kent.
The Panthers took a 1-0 lead heading into halftime thanks to a Jessica Robinson goal that came off a Smith assist.
Bruton conceded a goal in the second half, but got a go-ahead goal from Smith with an assist by Tori McCurdy.
The win pushes the Panthers (3-3) to .500 on the season with a chance to have a winning record through seven games. Bruton will look for its next win on the road against Tabb on Thursday.
Bruton 2, New Kent 1
Goals: Bruton (Jessica Robinson, Bri Smith)
Assists: Bruton (Bri Smith, Tori McCurdy)
