October 25, 1996|By Jamison Hensley | Jamison Hensley,CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Every sport has its rivalry. In field hockey, no meeting is more intense than Bryn Mawr-Roland Park.
Name another field hockey matchup that boasts a 36-year-old silver trophy, an overflowing, vocal crowd and cameras from ESPN.
And the game didn't disappoint.
Junior forward Kim Smith maneuvered around three defenders and scored the game-winner 11 minutes into the contest as No. 3 Bryn Mawr slipped past No. 6 and host Roland Park, 1-0, yesterday to take home the trophy. The game is scheduled to be a part of ESPN's "Scholastic Sports America" show in two weeks.
The Mawrtians (7-1-4), who lead the series 17-12-8, hadn't beaten the Reds since 1993. The win also lessened the sting of Bryn Mawr's upset loss to Garrison Forest on Tuesday.
"It's incredible," said Smith, who was in the eighth grade when the Mawrtians last defeated Roland Park. "This was a team effort and everyone wanted it. I never wanted a win so much after a loss."
Roland Park (8-1-2), which has had several late-game goals this season, couldn't answer the early score despite a flurry of opportunities. The Reds, who outshot Bryn Mawr 11-7, had eight of their 11 penalty corners in the second half and consistently pressured goalie Ellen Phillips (seven saves).
The Reds' final chance to tie the game came with 1: 37 remaining, when a crossing pass rolled past three Roland Park players near the goal and out of bounds.
"I think we dominated and we certainly had numerous opportunities," said Roland Park coach Debbie Bloodsworth, who twice asked over the public address system for quiet so the players could better hear the coaches.
"On the bright side, it gets us ready for the [Association of Independent Schools] tournament, [which] won't have more people making more noise than this."
No one could slow down Smith. Taking the ball at the top of the circle, she drove around three Reds defenders, controlling a bounce off one of those players, and backhanded it into the goal.
"When it hit off the Roland Park player, everyone waited for a whistle," Smith said. "Luckily, I always keep going."
Pub Date: 10/25/96
