WEEDSPORT - Who would have thunk it.

That Abby Cook, best known to Union Springs fans as the ace pitcher who finds the strike zone more often than most people find their car keys - could be just as dangerous to the Wolves' opponents with a field hockey stick?

Weedsport field hockey coach Theresa Leonardi, that's who.

Even though the Section III coach isn't an expert on Section IV softball, it wasn't a shock to her that someone who routinely strikes out 10 batters per game could knock a couple of shots in.

Cook scored two goals and added an assist in the Wolves' 3-2 non-league win over the Warriors on Wednesday .

"I don't really follow Section IV athletics, but it doesn't surprise me at all that someone who is a gifted pitcher is a gifted hockey player," Leonardi said. "You need to be a gifted athlete to be a very good pitcher, and she is a very good athlete. My guess is that she would be good in any sport that she would play."

Cook has been playing field hockey since seventh grade, and views it as her "fun sport."

Fun, probably because she only plays it for a few months out of the year. Aside from playing for Union Springs, the IAC All-star plays on the Renegades Gold and the (female) Syracuse Skychiefs.

As a sixth-grader she was throwing 51 mph.

"I eat, sleep and breath softball," said Cook, whose bubbly attitude off the field is in stark contrast to her serious demeanor on it. "So field hockey is what I do to stay in shape; to keep running. I love it."

The junior switched positions this season, moving back from wing to halfback.

"I put her back there because I didn't really have anybody for defense because we were short on numbers," Wolves coach Gerry Nedza said. "She's always willing to do anything and she enjoys defense. She's always willing to work hard.

Cook likes her new position and it was evident from her play against Weedsport. After Sherry Seamans tallied the game's first goal at the 13:24 mark, Cook lined a pass down the field to teammate Erica Bizzari (one goal, one assist).

Bizzari lifted the pass over Warrior keeper Megan Henderson's (three saves) head to tie it. The ball hit the top of the goal and dropped down behind Henderson.

Cook scored the second goal early in the second half on a penalty stroke. Her shot, a reverse since she's a lefty, bounced unluckily off Henderson's pads and into the box.

"It was so bad, it was terrible" Cook groaned. "I don't even know how it went in."

Bizzari found Cook at the top of the circle for the Wolves final goal.

Weedsport got back into it seconds later, when Seamans tapped a shot in play following a penalty corner. The Warriors tried to send it into overtime, but keeper Jess Kneaskern (eight saves) turned away shot after shot.

"I thought their goalie was phenomenal," Leonardi said. "At one point, our kids were just peppering her. She did a great job keeping the ball out of the cage."

Cook was impressed with her teammate's debut.

"Our goalie is only a sophomore and she's been doing really great," Cook said. "We've been working her really hard and she's been doing really good."

Weedsport had it's chances. In fact, the game ended with the ball just yards away from Kneaskern with several members from each team trying to get one last crack at it. Weedsport outshot Union Springs 14-6. The Warriors also had a 11-2 advantage in penalty corners.

"We've got to get better in finding ways to score," Leonardi said. "We're bringing the ball down the field and we're creating shots but they're not going in."

Both Weedsport (0-1) and Union Springs (1-0) travel to the Marathon Tournament today.

Staff writer Michelle Prego can be reached at 253-5311, ext. 257 or citizensports@lee.net