Springside hockey off to encouraging start
Springside field hockey captains Jane Gray (left) and Emery Maine. (Photo by Tom Utescher)
by TOM UTESCHER
During the short post-Labor Day week Springside School’s field hockey squad managed to squeeze in a three-game homestand, capping the string with a 1-0 win over Lower Merion on Saturday to go 2-0-1 during the first full week of September.
The Lions hosted Jenkintown High School on Monday, dropping the Drakes 2-1 as forward Delia Langan scored one goal and set up the other. One of eight seasoned seniors who were members of the 2004 varsity, Langan assisted classmate Sofia Zmurkewycz on the Lion’s first marker, then scored herself off of a feed from another upperclassman, Rachel Estepa.
On Friday, Estepa scored for Springside (senior Alison Curry assisted) as the Lions wound up in a 1-1 tie with visiting George School. Junior Sara Heinze, a three-year starter in goal for the locals, recorded ten saves in the Jenkintown game and made eight stops against George.
Senior defender Jane Gray took part in all three contests last week, but the Lions’ other senior co-captain, midfielder Emery Maine, was out of action due to injury. She tore some ankle ligaments during a training run last month, but is expected to return shortly and should play in all of Springside’s Girls Inter-Ac League games. Fortunately, the Lions have been receiving strong midfield performances by the likes of senior Kristy Caltabiano and sophomore Nora Langan.
Springside controlled play most of the time through the first half of last Saturday’s Lower Merion match, registering seven penalty corners while the Aces had none. After some close calls on shots by Estepa, Curry, and sophomore Leslie Jacoby, Springside deposited what would be the only goal of the day with 17:09 remaining in the first half. Jacoby passed the ball into the circle from the left side, and Delia Langan banged it in from about 15 yards out.
At the other end of the pitch, Gray, senior Maggie Kyle and sophomore Mary Beth Dougherty were playing solid defense in front of Heinze.
The Lions had more opportunities to score later in the period and early in the second half, but Lower Merion keeper Catherine Sullivan held up well, and would finish with 18 saves. As a result, Springside’s lead seemed precarious indeed as the Aces attacked furiously during the last ten minutes.
The visitors enjoyed three straight corners with around eight minutes to go, but only managed one shot, which was deflected away from the cage. As the clock dipped under five minutes, Lower Merion lined up for four more corner plays in succession. There were no shots on the first two, but on the third Springside’s Heinze (12 saves total) had to make back-to-back stops to keep her shutout. On the fourth corner, she kicked the ball back outside from near the right post.
Later, with just seconds remaining, the Aces enjoyed one last corner opportunity (the game totals ended up 9-9), but were unable to stop the ball off of the insertion pass to get off a shot.
