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Thursday, 28 August 2008 |
By JIM FULLER
Express Sports Editor
Emily Bellavance turned aside four shots in the last minute of sudden-death overtime as host North Country held on for a 1-1 tie with Montpelier in a varsity field hockey game Wednesday.
The Solons had two other shots during the flurry that went wide.
“She was incredible,” Head Coach Trish Bennett said of Bellavance. “Her ice hockey is influencing her field hockey.”
Bennett said new rules this year allow goalies basically to defend “anyway the can”. And that’s what Bellavance did.
Abby Willis got the lone Falcon goal with 1:04 left in the first half. Hannah Schy tied it 4:45 into the second half.
Neither team could keep momentum. Throughout the end of regulation and
overtime, play was back-and-forth. Just prior to the game-ending flurry
by the Solons, the Falcons had their chance to win with three shots on
goal.
“We had opportunities,” Bennett said. “I thought we were going to get it.”
Bennett also singled out senior Rachel Nelson for her performance on
defense. “She went to the ball well,” Bennett said. “She did a
fantastic job.”
Bennett said her girls have a lot to work on, but that she was pleased
with their effort in their opener. “They’ve come a long way since the
St. Jay scrimmage,” she said. “I was very happy with what they did
today.”
The offense stalled at times. Bennett attributed this to a “need to
trust that their middies are going to be behind them. That will come in
time.”
North Country, 0-0-1, travels to Missisquoi for a 4 p.m. game Friday.
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