Contact: Jenni Brockman
Telephone: 804-443-3357
Fax: 804-443-6781
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Field Hockey Bounces Back After Scoreless Tie
Volleyball Opens Regular LIS Season in Winning Fashion
By Hollis Duncan
Field Hockey: After a scoreless tie on Tuesday, September 19, at home against Fredericksburg Academy, St. Margaret's varsity field hockey team (1-1 LIS; 2-1-1 overall) rebounded Friday to upend Virginia Episcopal School 3-1 in Lynchburg. The win gave SMS its first League of Independent Schools (LIS) victory this fall.
Senior midfielder Carol Combs of Statesboro, Ga. has been instrumental in St. Margaret's (1-1 LIS; 2-1-1 overall) two varsity field hockey wins this fall. Here, she looks to pass from the sideline with Fredericksburg Academy defenders ready to attack.
"Everyone played extremely well," commented Head Coach Kate Coghlan. Typical of the season so far, the Scotty offensive attack was built around a battery of key plays by a deep and talented senior cast. The lone scorer in the first half for both teams, senior day student Claire Stephenson of Tappahannock, put SMS on the boards first. Midfielder Britton Faulkner of Irvington, one of many standout senior athletes on this year's team, assisted Stephenson's goal. SMS led 1-0 at halftime.
Then St. Margaret's got its offensive machine in gear. Despite posting just 2 goals in the second half, the Scotties dominated the game offensively. Seniors Carol Combs of Hamptonville, N.C., and Elizabeth LeBlanc of Dallas both scored for SMS. LeBlanc, who was assisted by Combs, also received help from senior Sara Newman of White Stone, who passed to set up her shot.
"The seniors made it look easy," said goalie Alison Wasserman, herself a senior boarder from Baltimore. "We [seniors] try to carry the brunt of the load, but the underclassmen are a vital part of this team - a win wouldn't be possible without them."
Volleyball: "We didn't lie down and quit, we fought hard despite the odds," commented rookie varsity volleyball Head Coach Natalie LaPrade on her young team's tenacity and tough play against a veteran St. Catherine's School squad on Tuesday, September 19, in Richmond. Her comment was in reference to Game 3, which St. Margaret's (1-0 LIS; 3-3 overall) took 15-10.
SMS fell behind early 0-2, losing Game 1 (6-15) and Game 2 (7-15). After rallying to win Game 3, in which SMS trailed by 6 late in the game, SMS closed the match with a score of 5-15 in Game 4.
Two days later, paired against their first LIS opponent this fall, the Scotties sent a message, loud and clear, to Blessed Sacrament-Huguenot: We (whack!) mean (whack!) business (WHACK!) from now on! From the first serve that afternoon, it was evident that the SMS squad had regrouped and found its formula for success.
Each player came to the match with a fresh resolve that was evident. St. Margaret's, one observer commented, had elevated its game to near collegiate-level play. Leading a trio of powerful hitters, Senior Cathy Ryan of Tappahannock fired consistent serves over the net that left the BSH Saints scrambling out of position for returns. Junior setter Tiff Greer of Mobile, Ala., produced great results while on serve. A powerful topspin server, Greer kept the ball down and low over the net, a combination for which Blessed Sacrament had no answer. Junior middle hitter Brittany Walker of Callao also posted a string of strong hits that resulted in key points for SMS.
With all 11 players rotating into the game at some point, the Scotties stayed fresh to sweep Blessed-Sacrament Huguenot, winning the best-of-three game contest 15-4, 15-10 and 15-6.
"I am very proud of their individual ability and their fight," LaPrade said. After trailing 6 points in Game 2, the Scotties rallied to win 15-10. "Stepping up like that gave the girls a lot of confidence," added LaPrade. "The momentum swing was key for us," added junior co-captain Shannon Davis of Tappahannock, who starts for the team at outside hitter. "We worked as one unit and found our magic rhythm, which we knew we had all along."
