Hornets Survive Late Eagles Goal, Mosquito Swarm

Senior Emma Livesey picked a great time to score first goal in three years.

Her Saline Hornets field hockey team had spent the majority of the second half of Monday’s pressuring their opponents from Skyline, but failed to add to their 2-1 half-time lead.  Then, with 5:17 to play in the game, the Eagles scored a tying goal that might have deflated a lesser team.

The Hornets went right on the attack. Senior Alli Cope smacked a bouncing backhander to the goal and Livesey took care of the rest.

“My friend Alli hit a bouncer and I just swung at it and hit it out of the air,” said Livesey. The ball hit the back of the net with a thud and Livesey jumped for joy.

“It felt amazing because I haven’t scored a goal in three years,” said Livesey.

Her goal, scored with 4:23 to play, stood as the winner, as the Hornets defeated the Eagles, 3-2.

The Hornets were the better team most of the night. Juniors Amelia Waters and Alyssa Scheske were foiled by the Eagles’ netminder on two good chances early in the game.

Saline got on the scoreboard first when junior Samantha Dicks broke up a clearing attempt and then junior Annie Carter ripped a shot into the goal from about 20 feet out with 15:30 to play in the first half.

The Eagles tied the game five minutes later when an Eagle batted a rebound past Hornet goalie Jessie Opaleski.

Saline regained the lead with 3:29 to play in the half when junior Sarah Ball tipped in a perfect pass from junior Sara Palmerton after the Hornets moved the ball smartly around the goal circle after a penalty corner.

The Hornets dominated the first 20 minutes of the second half but couldn’t add to their lead. With about 10 minutes to play, the Eagles started pouring it on. Finally, after two penalty corners, the Eagles tied the game on a shot the bounced past the diving Opaleski.

Hornets coach Don Hes liked the way his team responded to the Eagle’s late goal.

“I think we were caught of guard a little in the second half, but we recovered quickly. It was important to have a quick answer to their second goal,” Hes said. “I was glad to see they didn’t let the second goal affect them.”

Throughout the game, the Hornets won the one-on-one battles. The girls at midfield were particularly adept at stripping the Eagles of possession and turning the play around.

“We have a few girls who are very fast at midfield and they do a great job supporting the forwards and defense and reversing plays with interceptions to set up the attack,” Hes said. “Overall, I think we played with great intensity.”

The only rivals for the swarming Hornet defense were the swarming mosquitoes. Players, coaches, officials and fans were attacked all game.

“They were nasty. But we had bug spray and we sprayed it all over my helmet and equipment,” said Opaleski, who said she didn’t let the bugs break her concentration. “I really wanted to win this game, so I didn’t much trouble staying focused.”

Saline plays at Whippets at 6 p.m. Wednesday, with the junior varsity game starting at 4:30 p.m. The varsity team hosts Dexter at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Junior varsity plays at noon.