CATO -The Cato-Meridian field hockey team sure knows how to make things interesting.
Down 3-0 to rival Port Byron late in the second half, the Blue Devils didn#'t let up on Panthers goalie Julie Janusz.
Cato-Meridian would score once, but the senior Janusz regrouped to keep the Blue Devils out of the goal to preserve Port Byron's 3-1 victory at CIMARF Thursday afternoon.
It was an actual and a mental victory for Panthers and coach Erica Grunder.
“We kind of let down our guard when the other team comes back,” she said.
Thursday, the Panther defense did no such thing. After Alison Short netted her second goal of the game with 11 minutes left, the Blue Devils went on the offensive.
They pressured Janusz, and were rewarded with seven second-half penalty corners. Cato-Meridian had several good opportunities but just couldn't break through until Chelsea Gilbert found Sasha Moore to get within two.
“I pulled the girls out and told them that this is your time to score,” said Blue Devils coach Nicole Lewis.
After Moore's goal at the 5:42 mark, the Blue Devils continued to pelt Janusz (three saves) with shots, but the senior made the saves. The game ended with the ball in front of Cato-Meridian goalie Kelly Hunter after a Port Byron corner.
Port Byron had a lot of offense in the first half, but penalties inside the circle gave Cato-Meridian possession.
“The girls are still getting used to handling the ball and putting a lot of pressure on inside the circle,” Grunder said. “They still have trouble with the obstruction rule.”
The Panthers pulled it together about mid-way through the first half, when Short passed it to Jamie Secor for the game's first goal. With 6:46 to go, Jenna Fronce found Short for the 2-0 lead.
Port Byron got a boost in goal in the first half from Kate Riley (five saves), sophomore who moved up from junior varsity to get varsity playing time.
“Julie (Janusz) is a senior and it's getting towards the end of the season,” Grunder said. “She's our only goalie, so I wanted to get (Riley) varsity experience - and she did well.”
Despite the loss, Lewis was pleased with her team's performance.
“My team played well considering the heat and our record (0-12),” she said. “This is one of the first games we went out with our heads held high. We were aggressive from the start.”
Grunder was happy with the win.
“We played well,” she said. “We're consistently getting better and I thing that helped.”
Port Byron (4-9-1) travels to Homer on Wednesday, while Cato-Meridian visits Cortland on the same day. ended with the ball in front of Cato-Meridian goalie Kelly Hunter after a Port Byron corner.
Port Byron had a lot of offense in the first half, but penalties inside the circle gave Cato-Meridian possession.
“The girls are still getting used to handling the ball and putting a lot of pressure on inside the circle,” Grunder said. “They still have trouble with the obstruction rule.”
The Panthers pulled it together about mid-way through the first half, when Short passed it to Jamie Secor for the game's first goal. With 6:46 to go, Jenna Fronce found Short for the 2-0 lead.
Port Byron got a boost in goal in the first half from Kate Riley (five saves), sophomore who moved up from junior varsity to get varsity playing time.
“Julie (Janusz) is a senior and it's getting towards the end of the season,” Grunder said. “She's our only goalie, so I wanted to get (Riley) varsity experience - and she did well.”
Despite the loss, Lewis was pleased with her team's performance.
“My team played well considering the heat and our record (0-12),” she said. “This is one of the first games we went out with our heads held high. We were aggressive from the start.”
Grunder was happy with the win.
“We played well,” she said. “We're consistently getting better and I thing that helped.”
Port Byron (4-9-1) travels to Homer on Wednesday, while Cato-Meridian visits Cortland on the same day.
Cato-Meridian would score once, but the senior Janusz regrouped to keep the Blue Devils out of the goal to preserve Port Byron's 3-1 victory at CIMARF Thursday afternoon.
It was an actual and a mental victory for Panthers and coach Erica Grunder.
“We kind of let down our guard when the other team comes back,” she said.
Thursday, the Panther defense did no such thing. After Alison Short netted her second goal of the game with 11 minutes left, the Blue Devils went on the offensive.
They pressured Janusz, and were rewarded with seven second-half penalty corners. Cato-Meridian had several good opportunities but just couldn't break through until Chelsea Gilbert found Sasha Moore to get within two.
“I pulled the girls out and told them that this is your time to score,” said Blue Devils coach Nicole Lewis.
After Moore's goal at the 5:42 mark, the Blue Devils continued to pelt Janusz (three saves) with shots, but the senior made the saves. The game ended with the ball in front of Cato-Meridian goalie Kelly Hunter after a Port Byron corner.
Port Byron had a lot of offense in the first half, but penalties inside the circle gave Cato-Meridian possession.
“The girls are still getting used to handling the ball and putting a lot of pressure on inside the circle,” Grunder said. “They still have trouble with the obstruction rule.”
The Panthers pulled it together about mid-way through the first half, when Short passed it to Jamie Secor for the game's first goal. With 6:46 to go, Jenna Fronce found Short for the 2-0 lead.
Port Byron got a boost in goal in the first half from Kate Riley (five saves), sophomore who moved up from junior varsity to get varsity playing time.
“Julie (Janusz) is a senior and it's getting towards the end of the season,” Grunder said. “She's our only goalie, so I wanted to get (Riley) varsity experience - and she did well.”
Despite the loss, Lewis was pleased with her team's performance.
“My team played well considering the heat and our record (0-12),” she said. “This is one of the first games we went out with our heads held high. We were aggressive from the start.”
Grunder was happy with the win.
“We played well,” she said. “We're consistently getting better and I thing that helped.”
Port Byron (4-9-1) travels to Homer on Wednesday, while Cato-Meridian visits Cortland on the same day. ended with the ball in front of Cato-Meridian goalie Kelly Hunter after a Port Byron corner.
Port Byron had a lot of offense in the first half, but penalties inside the circle gave Cato-Meridian possession.
“The girls are still getting used to handling the ball and putting a lot of pressure on inside the circle,” Grunder said. “They still have trouble with the obstruction rule.”
The Panthers pulled it together about mid-way through the first half, when Short passed it to Jamie Secor for the game's first goal. With 6:46 to go, Jenna Fronce found Short for the 2-0 lead.
Port Byron got a boost in goal in the first half from Kate Riley (five saves), sophomore who moved up from junior varsity to get varsity playing time.
“Julie (Janusz) is a senior and it's getting towards the end of the season,” Grunder said. “She's our only goalie, so I wanted to get (Riley) varsity experience - and she did well.”
Despite the loss, Lewis was pleased with her team's performance.
“My team played well considering the heat and our record (0-12),” she said. “This is one of the first games we went out with our heads held high. We were aggressive from the start.”
Grunder was happy with the win.
“We played well,” she said. “We're consistently getting better and I thing that helped.”
Port Byron (4-9-1) travels to Homer on Wednesday, while Cato-Meridian visits Cortland on the same day.
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