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Field Hockey: Columbus Academy 2, Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown 1
Nov 07, 2009
Was redemption on the minds of the Columbus Academy field hockey team? Vikings coach Anne Horton's answer was succinct.
"Absolutely," she said.
One year after losing the state title to Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown, Academy won the rematch 2-1 on Friday to advance to the program's 12th state championship game since 1994.
"At the beginning of the season, the kids talked about how they wanted to play Hathaway Brown again," Horton said.
Mia Wise broke a 1-all tie with six minutes remaining in the game to help Academy improve to 14-3-2 and advance to Saturday's state final game against Watterson. Hathaway Brown finished 13-4.
"I'm really proud of these girls," Wise said. "We fight as a team tighter, and we were fighting hard in the second half. We've been preaching all season to go toward the goal. I'm still now sure how (my goal) went in."
Although the Vikings own a state-record eight state championships, they were not expected to be in this position.
"We've been underdogs all season," said Wise, whose team has won 10 consecutive games after opening 4-3-2. "If we play as a team and play together, we feel good where we're at and we believe in ourselves."
Hathaway Brown scored first on a goal by Chase Healey with 1:15 remaining in the first half. Recently, one goal is typically all the Blazers have needed. In three postseason games entering Friday, Hathaway Brown has outscored its opponents 18-0. In 16 games, the Blazers allowed 12 goals.
"At halftime, I told the girls to look at it as a nil-nil game," Hathaway Brown coach Sydney Van Der Merwe said. "We were a bit lazy and back on our heels in the second half. We were trying to rely on our defense and (Academy) came out stronger. They wanted it more than us."
Academy turned up the offensive pressure and less than three minutes into the second half, Courtney Deena tied the game at 1.
"This team has been so tenacious all season," Horton said. "I call them my blue-collar team. They don't give up and showed it today."
According to Horton, Academy's increased offensive pressure created holes in Hathaway Brown's stout defense.
"They were rattled with the pressure we were putting on them," Horton said. "We did not give up and it netted us two goals."
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