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Field Hockey: Columbus Academy 2, Thomas Worthington 1 (penalty strokes)
Nov 01, 2009
By CORY STEGER
ThisWeek Staff Writer
The Columbus Academy field hockey team advanced to a state semifinal by defeating Thomas Worthington 2-1 on the strength of a 4-1 advantage in penalty strokes on Saturday in a state-qualifying tournament final.
Columbus Academy improved to 11-2-1 and will play Nov. 6 in a state semifinal at Upper Arlington against Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown, the defending state champion. Thomas Worthington finished 14-3.
"I'm just ecstatic because the team has come from a lot. In the middle of the season, we just weren't very good," Academy coach Anne Horton said. "We were dropping games we shouldn't have been dropping, and the girls just refused to give up. The seniors dug their heels in and made the team believe in itself. And from the last time we played (Thomas Worthington) at the end of September, this team has just evolved into a championship team."
Both goals in regulation occurred in the first half. Thomas forward Lauren Geiser opened the scoring 11 minutes in the first half. Academy responded nine minutes later on a goal from Jessi Pickering that came off a corner.
The second half was dominated by Thomas as the Cardinals had six corners to the Vikings' one. The Cardinals had nine shots on goal in the second half but six were saved by Vikings goalkeeper Alicia Tamarkin and the others missed wide.
Thomas continued to control the ball in the first sudden-victory overtime period as the Cardinals earned four corners, but again the Academy defense held strong.
The Vikings were able to turn the tables in the second overtime period as they had five corners, but Thomas goalie Marissa Metcalf came up with five saves, forcing the teams to go to penalty strokes.
It didn't take long for Academy to earn the win in penalty strokes. Dina Sinno, Taylor Long and Clarissa Leickly and scored, while Tierney Ford was the only Cardinal to score on the first three attempts for Thomas Worthington. The Vikings put away the Cardinals for good when Mia Wise buried her penalty stroke, giving Academy a 4-1 edge and the victory.
"I thought we played a great game, especially in the second half and in the overtimes," Thomas Worthington coach Terri Simonetti-Frost said. "Whenever you play a top team like Academy, you're going to have a dogfight and that's what it was today."
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