Severn's field hockey team passed a big test yesterday with a 3-1 victory in Severna Park over visiting Notre Dame Prep.
It was a matchup of two undefeated and very young teams in the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference, and the No. 11 Admirals (3-1 overall, 3-0 league) struck in the first two minutes, then dominated the second half to put away the Pirates (4-1, 3-1).
FOR THE RECORD - The last name of Severn field hockey player Kyle Roth was misspelled in yesterday's editions. The Sun regrets the error.
Junior forward Kyle Ross led the victors with two goals, the first and last. Senior Lindsay Brown scored the other, which proved to be the game winner, as the Admirals' junior goalkeeper Jobi Manson closed the door on the Pirates after junior Alex Radebaugh tied the game in the final minute of the first half.
Jenna Rogers, Severn's senior center-back, drew high praise from coach Carolyn Campion for stopping Notre Dame Prep's fast break and re-distributing the ball.
"We're a very young team, and we never know what's going to happen when we go out on the field, but we always seem to have that extra push," said senior center/midfielder and tri-captain Jessica Adam, who assisted Ross on the first goal of the game with only two minutes gone.
"I think today purely our hustle was the difference. If there was a ball [loose], we would make sure we were the first ones to get there and had support from everybody."
No argument from Notre Dame Prep coach Erin Gillin on the Admirals' hustle.
"I wish we had played them at home and didn't have the long bus ride down here, which, I think, psyched the girls out," said Gillin. "They [Severn] played a strong game and connected and talked and knew where everybody was on the field, which is what we didn't do - and had been doing before today."
Severn connected at the outset as Ross scored on a cross from Adam, but Radebaugh tied it up from inside the circle on a strong hit past a diving Manson. Just moments later, Radebaugh had a similar opportunity, but Manson, who finished with eight saves, made a nifty kick save.
The Admirals regained the lead in the first four minutes of the second half on Brown's shot into the left corner from about 3 yards. Notre Dame Prep goalie Alex Pirano, who had six saves, didn't have a chance. With the 2-1 lead, the Admirals were relentless against the Pirates, who managed to stay in the game, thanks to the play of junior backs Kathleen Tamberino and Andrea Miles.
"Our intensity level definitely picked up in the second half," said Campion.
Finally, with about 3:30 left, Ross iced the verdict by taking a hit off senior Emily Mason, then juking a defender to hit it in for the final two-goal margin.
"I've been psyched for this game since preseason, and today in school, I was on the edge of my seat, counting down the hours to game time," said Ross. "Every year, NDP is a real tight game [Severn won, 1-0, twice last year]. We were really goal hungry today."
