UNION SPRINGS - The Union Springs field hockey team defined perseverance on Monday.
Michelle Prego-Milewski / Special to The Citizen
Auburn's Abbie Reese, left, tries to stop Union Springs' Stefanie Bacon, right, from passing in the first half on Monday. The Wolves won, 1-0, on Bacon's second-half goal.
Auburn's Abbie Reese, left, tries to stop Union Springs' Stefanie Bacon, right, from passing in the first half on Monday. The Wolves won, 1-0, on Bacon's second-half goal.
With its game against Auburn on hold as teammate Meg Sacco was taken away by ambulance due to heat exhaustion and goalie Jessica Kneaskern about to suffer the same fate, the Wolves were faced with a decision.
Play with 10 players or not play at all.
Union Springs chose the former.
Jenn O'Hara, a senior who hadn't been in the goal since she played on the modified squad, volunteered to strap on goalie pads and finish out the final 15 minutes, and the Wolves held on for a 1-0 victory. Stefanie Bacon scored the winning goal early in the second half.
"We were just trying to decide if it was safe or not," said Wolves' coach Gerry Nedza. "I think the players that were left looked pretty good and they wanted to play so we decided to go ahead and play."
"There were 15 minutes left in that game - we had to finish," said Union Springs' Abby Cook. "There was no way we would've stopped that game and forfeited it."
O'Hara made one save while she filled in for Kneaskern (one save).
"I haven't made a save since eighth grade," she said.
The seniors on the team, O'Hara, Cook, Amelia Lepak and Ashley Fiorenzo, agreed they wanted to win for their injured teammates (both girls were fine later Monday night). Fiorenzo believed the Wolves won because of defense.
Neither team was able to conjure up much offense, combining for six shots. Bacon was able to break through several minutes after Sacco left the game in the second half.
"It was definitely played between the 25s," said Auburn coach Michelle Duprey. "The one goal that they got was a little bit of a breakaway, and when we got in the circle we couldn't finish. We couldn't get a hard stick on the ball."
The teams battles at midfield for another 10 minutes, until the Maroons got the ball in front of Kneaskern. They lost possession on a foul, and Cook took the free hit.
Cook's hit sailed high, and hit Auburn's Kelly Blumrick above the eye. An ambulance was called for Blumrick, but it ended up taking Sacco.
"We were trying to play inspired also, but I think it's hard to play when you get a break for 10 minutes," Duprey said. "It's hard to get back into to it. Then (Blumrick) got hurt, and I had a bunch of girls really upset and in tears themselves. I give (Union Springs) credit for continuing to play."
Duprey hopes that Blumrick's injury open up her team to protective head gear.
"They're doing a head injury survey this year in field hockey as a whole, because I think goggles are going to be required in 2007," she said. "Honestly I talked to my girls about it, they really should have them now. They're bulky, and they steam up - lacrosse went to them and I believe it's going to be a rule in 2007."
The game was delayed for 20-25 minutes while Blumrick was attended to and Sacco was taken off the field. Later, play was stopped with just under a minute to play when another ambulance arrived for Kneaskern. After Blumrick was injured, Kneaskern tried to rest on the field. It quickly became apparent that she wouldn't be able to return, and O'Hara filled in.
At the five-minute mark Auburn had two chances to score on penalty corners but couldn't get a shot past O'Hara.
"We just couldn't capitalize," Duprey said. "We had four girls in there, nobody could get a real good stick on it."
Auburn (0-5) plays at Watertown on Friday, while Union Springs (2-1) travels to Newark Valley on Wednesday.
"They always work hard and they showed it in the game today," Nedza said of her squad. "They just didn't want to give up."
Play with 10 players or not play at all.
Union Springs chose the former.
Jenn O'Hara, a senior who hadn't been in the goal since she played on the modified squad, volunteered to strap on goalie pads and finish out the final 15 minutes, and the Wolves held on for a 1-0 victory. Stefanie Bacon scored the winning goal early in the second half.
"We were just trying to decide if it was safe or not," said Wolves' coach Gerry Nedza. "I think the players that were left looked pretty good and they wanted to play so we decided to go ahead and play."
"There were 15 minutes left in that game - we had to finish," said Union Springs' Abby Cook. "There was no way we would've stopped that game and forfeited it."
O'Hara made one save while she filled in for Kneaskern (one save).
"I haven't made a save since eighth grade," she said.
The seniors on the team, O'Hara, Cook, Amelia Lepak and Ashley Fiorenzo, agreed they wanted to win for their injured teammates (both girls were fine later Monday night). Fiorenzo believed the Wolves won because of defense.
Neither team was able to conjure up much offense, combining for six shots. Bacon was able to break through several minutes after Sacco left the game in the second half.
"It was definitely played between the 25s," said Auburn coach Michelle Duprey. "The one goal that they got was a little bit of a breakaway, and when we got in the circle we couldn't finish. We couldn't get a hard stick on the ball."
The teams battles at midfield for another 10 minutes, until the Maroons got the ball in front of Kneaskern. They lost possession on a foul, and Cook took the free hit.
Cook's hit sailed high, and hit Auburn's Kelly Blumrick above the eye. An ambulance was called for Blumrick, but it ended up taking Sacco.
"We were trying to play inspired also, but I think it's hard to play when you get a break for 10 minutes," Duprey said. "It's hard to get back into to it. Then (Blumrick) got hurt, and I had a bunch of girls really upset and in tears themselves. I give (Union Springs) credit for continuing to play."
Duprey hopes that Blumrick's injury open up her team to protective head gear.
"They're doing a head injury survey this year in field hockey as a whole, because I think goggles are going to be required in 2007," she said. "Honestly I talked to my girls about it, they really should have them now. They're bulky, and they steam up - lacrosse went to them and I believe it's going to be a rule in 2007."
The game was delayed for 20-25 minutes while Blumrick was attended to and Sacco was taken off the field. Later, play was stopped with just under a minute to play when another ambulance arrived for Kneaskern. After Blumrick was injured, Kneaskern tried to rest on the field. It quickly became apparent that she wouldn't be able to return, and O'Hara filled in.
At the five-minute mark Auburn had two chances to score on penalty corners but couldn't get a shot past O'Hara.
"We just couldn't capitalize," Duprey said. "We had four girls in there, nobody could get a real good stick on it."
Auburn (0-5) plays at Watertown on Friday, while Union Springs (2-1) travels to Newark Valley on Wednesday.
"They always work hard and they showed it in the game today," Nedza said of her squad. "They just didn't want to give up."
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