October 19, 2006 Issue                                       

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©2006 The Chestnut Hill Local

Springside School sticksters edged by Baldwin
by TOM UTESCHER

When Springside School’s field hockey Lions traveled to Baldwin School for a match last Tuesday, both the guests and hosts had their hearts set on notching their first victory in the Girls Inter-Ac League this fall.

Although common opponents in the league had beaten Baldwin more decisively than Springside, the Bears stepped up to win Tuesday’s tilt, 1-0, on a goal scored midway through the second half. The result was a 1-2 record in league games for Baldwin, and an 0-5 mark for the Lions.

“We didn’t capitalize on our scoring opportunities in the first half, and that’s been a problem for us all year,” remarked Susie Macciocca, the first-year coach for Springside (3-6 overall). “In the first half we moved the ball well to the cage. In the last 15 minutes of the game I think that we got tired and communication broke down.”

At the start of the bout, the Lions turned aside some early shots by Baldwin, including one by Zoe Koren that was blocked by Springside defender Erica Frankel. The visitors would have numerous chances of their own. A pair of corners didn’t produce solid shots for the locals, and on two occasions when Springside brought the ball in along the right endline, Baldwin goalie Alli Friedberg (seven saves) came outside of the near post to kick the ball clear.

Later Baldwin threatened on a rush by Alex Acker, but Springside’s Anna Hayne tracked down the runaway Bear and took the ball off her stick. Due to this and other exploits, Springside’s Macciocca dubbed this the best game of the season for the Lions junior. After another corner for the visitors, the half ended with the count still 0-0.

The goose eggs remained on the board after Springside took the first penalty corner of the second half. Baldwin came down the field to earn three corner chances of its own, making good on the last of them to chalk up the game’s only goal. Here, Koven put the ball in play to Ali McMurtrie, and while the Bears didn’t get a clean shot directly off the restart, they kept the ball in front of the Lions’ cage until Susanna Hamilton batted it in.

On a Springside corner, Hayne received the hit from Tori Roebuck and drove the ball towards the goal, but after several deflections it was tipped out of bounds. Later, on a long hit, a shot by Hayne was stopped by the Bears’ Friedman.

Maccioca said later that Springside needs to work on the final phase of its set pieces in the circle.

She commented “I’m happy with the stop, I’m happy with the initial shot, but the rebound is what I really need for us to drastically improve on.”

After a Baldwin corner with 90 seconds remaining, the Lions brought the ball out of their defensive sector, but were stopped about ten yards past midfield. The game ended with a jumble in front of the Springside goal. Lions netminder Sara Heinze (nine saves) flipped and flopped to keep the ball from crossing the line, but the Bears still came away with the win.