HIGH SCHOOL FIELD HOCKEY
AUGUST 19, 2007
NOTES: Golden opportunity finally comes in Apple
By
NATHAN CHAMBERS
BeyondTheDerby.com
Throughout Sacred Heart’s run of Apple Tournament championships in 2004, 2005 and 2006, one constant was goalkeeper Brittany Miller.
She stared down Assumption’s top guns during a flick-off in the 2004 final, when she was a wide-eyed sophomore just beginning her first season as the varsity starter. Like déjà vu, she did it again in 2005. And she made more big saves down the stretch to preserve a 2-1 win over the Rockets in the 2006 final.
But Miller, a 2006 Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association High School All-American, has taken her talents to Michigan State.
Her former backup, senior Meredith Golden, is Sacred Heart’s starting goalie now, and it was her turn to make the plays in the 35th annual Apple Tournament last week.
“I’ve been waiting for it,” Golden said. “It feels good.”
Golden wasn’t tested in a 1-0 win over Ballard in the final on Saturday like Miller had been tested in previous years. But she did all that the Valkyries needed her to do to win a fourth straight title.
“Meredith did a nice job,” Sacred Heart coach Liz Lewis said. “She made a couple crucial saves.”
Golden allowed only one goal - a blast off the stick of Assumption star Lauren Schmeing, who was uncovered, in the semifinals on Friday - in four tournament games.
All-Tournament Team
Four players from the Valkyries and three from the Bruins topped the list of All-Tournament Team honorees recognized after the final.
Sacred Heart’s players were seniors Jennifer Bohnert, Taylor Collins, and Whitney Ising, and junior Olivia Miller. Ballard’s players were senior Amanda Seeley and juniors Molly Dean and Lara Williams.
Assumption and Collegiate each had two players on the team. Schmeing, a senior, and senior Jennifer McGill were selected from the Rockets, and senior Sara Sanders and junior Cece Lindsey were selected from the Amazons.
Also chosen were Christian Academy senior Ellen West, Eastern junior Meri Wilson, Holy Cross senior Mary Lanham, Kentucky Country Day senior Christena Burell, Male's Jamie Smither, Manual junior Hannah Boyer, Mercy senior Katie Norris, Presentation senior Caitlin Maguire, and South Oldham junior Rachel Musberger.
Collegiate’s Sanders emerges
Sanders enjoyed a coming-out party last week, scoring three goals in Collegiate’s two games while showcasing one of the state’s most powerful shots.
She scored twice in a 4-3 win over Mercy in the quarterfinals on Tuesday and scored her team’s only goal in a 2-1 loss to Ballard in the semifinals on Friday. She looked particularly effective on penalty corners, which the Amazons executed well.
“If you leave her open, she can nail it,” coach Wendy Martin said.
Sanders totaled four goals and two assists last season but appears ready to do much more.
“She’s coming into her own as a senior captain,” Martin said.
Other tournament finals
After losing to Collegiate - in a flick-off - in the quarterfinals, Mercy bounced back to win the consolation bracket with a 3-2 victory over Male on Friday.
Two other quarterfinal losers, KCD and Manual, did not play in the consolation bracket.
In the junior varsity final on Saturday, Manual beat Mercy 3-1.
In the freshman final, also on Saturday, Assumption beat Sacred Heart 1-0.
