Field Hockey Shut Out...Again

The field hockey team fell to their rival squad, Springbrook High School, in a pitiful game that displayed ineffective defense and lacked aggressive offense. Springbrook took advantage of Blair's mediocre level of play and shut them out 4-0.

Offensively, Blair looked very sound and consistent in their passing when the game started. However, as soon as the Blue Devils scored their fist goal, the Blazers lost focus and their offense lost intensity, said junior forward Abby Celotto. "Our morale went down as soon as they scored," she said.

Blair took only one shot on the Springbrook goal in the entire first half, while the Devils shot five and scored two. The first few minutes of the second half were completely dominated by Springbrook and they scored two more goals within minutes of each other in the beginning of the second half. By the end of the game, Blair had only attempted to score twice, while Springbrook had shot fourteen times.

Blair's defense was handicapped to begin with because they were missing two starting defenders, but the Devils were able to get by them because they weren't playing in position, according to junior defender Jessie Procter. "Unfortunately, defense was not working today," she said. "[We] didn't mark."

Although the team was not playing their best, they have the skills, they just need to learn how to use them effectively, said junior Sophie Strike. "It's not just that offense and defense have to do better, it's that we have to do better together," she said.

According to Strike, the losing squad is no longer worried about their record; they are focusing on getting their game together for post season. Their coach, Amy Miller, feels they will be able to do well in the playoffs, despite their unsightly record. "This team has all the talent and the capability to play with the top teams in post season," she said. "It's just a matter of focusing their energy and getting in the groove."