HIGH SCHOOL FIELD HOCKEY
AUGUST 11, 2007
Ballard wins the close one in first round of Apple
By
NATHAN CHAMBERS
BeyondTheDerby.com
Mercy, Manual, host Sacred Heart and Kentucky Country Day each were dominant in the first round of the 35th annual Apple Tournament on Saturday.
In the middle of the mismatches, Ballard and Christian Academy sweated out 45 minutes of scoreless hockey - literally, in the midday heat - before the Bruins pulled out a 2-0 win.
“We have a lot to work on,” Ballard coach Kelly Logsdon said. “I’m glad we won, but I’m not as happy with how we played.”
But she also acknowledged that the Centurions, who were playing their first game under former University of Louisville defender Andrea Roussel, were a much improved team.
“I think people saw a CAL team they haven’t seen before,” Roussel said. “I intend for them to see that for the rest of the season.”
Ballard had the numbers on its side, earning six times as many corners and taking more than twice as many shots against junior goalie Paige Neat. The Bruins finally made two of those opportunities count when seniors Amanda Seeley and Ali Pulliam scored in the last 15 minutes.
Logsdon credited the shutout to her own junior goalie, Lara Williams, and junior defender Molly Dean.
Ballard will play KCD in the quarterfinals at 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday. KCD, which lost to Sacred Heart in the state final last season, beat Presentation 5-0 on Saturday.
“If we play like we did in the last 15 minutes, we’ll be able to play with KCD,” Logsdon said. “If not, they’ll kill us.”
In other first-round games, Mercy routed Eastern 9-0; Manual downed Holy Cross 3-0; and Sacred Heart ripped Male 8-0.
Mercy 9, Eastern 0
Six different players scored for the veteran Jaguars, who led 6-0 at halftime.
Seniors Alli Flood, Chelsea Metzger, and Katie Norris each scored two goals, and seniors Kelsey Dennis, Taylor Moad, and Katie Wiedmar each scored one. Dennis and seniors Allison Burns and Mary Alice Pierce each had two assists.
The Eagles, who were missing their only senior, earned their first and only corner with 1:58 left in the game.
Manual 3, Holy Cross
Although the final score might not reflect it, the Crimsons were in control throughout the game. They had a 16-0 corner advantage and an 18-0 shot advantage.
Manual scored all three goals in the first half. Hannah Boyer tallied the first, and Samantha Segers delivered the next two.
“We were hoping to score in the second half,” Segers said. “We kept (the ball) on their side of the field most of the time. We just couldn’t connect.”
“We’ll definitely have to capitalize on those corners in the future,” Manual coach Terri Kendall said.
Sacred Heart 8, Male 0
Junior Olivia Miller led the attack for the three-time defending Apple Tournament champion Valkyries, scoring three goals.
Senior Whitney Ising and junior Jessica Lindner each scored two, and senior Sarah Ramsey scored one.
Male goalie Megan Martiny prevented much more damage with 20 saves.
KCD 5, Presentation 0
Junior Stephanie Carson scored two goals to lead the Bearcats. Senior Christena Burell and junior Kelly Beam each had a goal and an assist, and senior Maggie Flowers also scored.
