Contact: Jenni Brockman
Telephone: 804-443-3357
Fax: 804-443-6781
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Field Hockey Blanks Christchurch 7-0
Volleyball Searches for Rhythm
By Hollis Duncan
Field Hockey: Debuting this fall against neighboring Christchurch Episcopal School, St. Margaret's varsity field hockey team (0-1 LIS; 1-1 overall) came out top dog on Tuesday, September 12, as the Scotties shut out the Seahorses 7-0. All 17 SMS players saw game action on Tuesday and "all played very well, too," according to second-year Head Coach Kate Coghlan.
St. Margaret's 2000 varsity field hockey team: (kneeling, l. to r.) Captains Sara Newman of White Stone and Britton Faulkner of Irvington; (back, l. to r.) Alison Wasserman, Patricia Van Pelt, Ruth Redfearn of Kinsale, Heather Porter of Walkerton, Claire Hopkins of Oak Grove, Nikki Clark of Lively, Taylor Ellis of Dunnsville, Sarah Weakley of Montross, Olivia Longest of Tappahannock, Elizabeth LeBlanc, Tess Cooney, Claire Stephenson of Tappahannock, Carol Combs, Sarah Muller of Tappahannock, Sarah Taliaferro of Center Cross, Head Coach Kate Coghlan and Assistant Coach Whitfield Mastin.
Sprinting tirelessly throughout the 60-minute contest, senior Britton Faulkner of White Stone was the key playmaker of the afternoon, Coach Coghlan said. Faulkner received help from a quartet of seniors who accounted for 6 of the 7 SMS goals. Veteran Carol Combs put SMS on the boards first. She was followed by Claire Stephenson, Sara Newman and a beautiful diving shot by Elizabeth LeBlanc, who was assisted by Combs. SMS led 4-0 at halftime.
Newman (2) and LeBlanc (2) both put in their second goals of the afternoon as SMS went ahead 6-0 late in the second half. Sophomore rookie Claire Hopkins of Oak Grove, one of many bright spots in the Scotties' future, scored last to help SMS blank Christchurch 7-0. Despite the day's hot temperature, "We could not have dreamed of a better start to the 2000 season," Coghlan said.
On Thursday, September 14, SMS posted a disappointing 4-0 loss to a tough Steward School team in Richmond. Despite a gritty performance by senior goalie Alison Wasserman, the Scotties were unable to contest the deep and talented Steward squad. "We're looking forward to a rematch on our field," Coghlan said. "That will be a different story."
Volleyball: Ask any coach, they all agree: team chemistry does not develop overnight. First-year SMS varsity volleyball Head Coach Natalie LaPrade and her players know that, despite beginning the season 1-2 after a tournament held in Fredericksburg on Saturday, September 9.
Both coach and players remain optimistic about their team's chances in 2000, however. "We still are looking for our rhythm," Coach LaPrade commented, "but we are confident we will find it."
St. Margaret's (1 - 2 overall) played Emmanuel, St. Catherine's and Richmond Christian Schools in that order at the Fredericksburg Academy Volleyball Tournament. After staying close in Game 1 versus Emmanuel, which SMS lost 13-15, the Scotties rallied to win Game 2 with a score of 15-9. Emmanuel sealed the best-of-three game match with a 15-12 victory in Game 3.
The Scotties fought back to take the first game 15-8 over St. Catherine's. But the Saints rallied to reel off a pair of victories, posting scores of 15-13 and 15-11 to win Games 2 and 3, respectively.
Facing their toughest opponent in the third round, the Scotties defeated Richmond Christian, taking the first two games 17-15 and 15-9. To close the tournament, senior Cathy Ryan scored 4 aces during a serving streak from points 4-13 in Game 3. She was awarded a plaque and named an All -Tournament Player for her gritty play throughout the day.
On September 14, the Scotties rebounded with a 3-0 sweep of St. Vincent's. SMS was virtually uncontested for all three games, winning 15-0, 15-0 and 15-2 for the best-of-three game contest. Carey Ballard had 10 serving aces while serving points 5-15 in Game 2. Cathy Ryan had 5 aces and Ballard added an additional 8 serving aces in Game 3.
