NHS Field Hockey - The Hour & NorwalkCitizen-News.com Articles

Bears eliminated by Cardinals
The defending Class L champions ended Norwalk’s
state tournament run with a semifinal victory

By TOM EVANS

Hour Staff Writer

FAIRFIELD — No. 1 Greenwich continued its march toward a second consecutive CIAC Class L field hockey state championship by knocking off 12th seeded Norwalk, 3-1, in one semifinal contest Tuesday at Roger Ludlowe High School.

The Bears end their season 8-4-4-2. The Cardinals, 21-1, won for the 19th straight time this season, and will take on No. 7 Cheshire (15-4-1-1) for the title at 10 a.m. Saturday at Joseph F. Cottone Field at Wethersfield High School. Cheshire defeated No. 3 Simsbury 3-2 in overtime Tuesday.

Norwalk spoiled the shutout bid of senior goalie Jennifer Bourque when senior defender Kenzie Harrick slammed a pass from senior midfielder Kelly Bassford into the back of the net with no time left on the second-half clock. Senior midfielder Sarah Mintz began that final sequence after the Bears were awarded a penalty corner as time expired.

Greenwich got a first-half goal from senior forward Alexandra Hearn. Junior midfielder Gabrielle Geronimos scored seven minutes into the second half and junior forward Marlotte Van den Bergh ripped a penalty corner feed from senior midfielder Kristen Cole past junior goalie Kim Stow with 4:03 remaining in the game. Stow finished with 11 saves. Bourque stopped one Norwalk shot. Greenwich won the penalty corner battle, 12-2.

"Greenwich on a nice field is tough, they play a nice game and get opportunities, then they know what to do withthem," Norwalk head coach Kyle Seaburg said. "We definitely came out and played our game. That goal at the end of the game was a pride thing and it was good for Kenzie, a defender. We had our best practice of the year yesterday. In fact it was the best practice I’ve ever had as a coach. This is a fantastic group of kids. They did a great job. We came here and played. We didn’t just show up."

Greenwich broke on top off a penalty corner pass by Cole. Stow denied Van den Bergh on a direct shot, but Hearn — outside the left corner of the crease — pounced on the rebound and whipped it inside the right post for a 1-0 lead at the 8:01 mark of the first half.

Sophomore midfielder Anne Rosencrans took a pass from Hearn and worked her way deep down the rightwing. Rosencrans sent a pass to the middle where Geronimos stuffed it into the cage for a 2-0 advantage at 23:07 of the second half.

Stow made a huge save off a deflection by junior forward Bethany McGrath 11 minutes into the game, then stopped Van den Bergh on consecutive shots a minute apart, five minutes later. The junior also stopped three shots in the first five minutes of the second half.

In between those rushes Harrick broke up a penalty corner feed from Cole to Van den Bergh. "Kim takes everything to heart, she thinks she should stop every shot," Seaburg said of Stow. "Kim does a great job. She’s one of the reasons we made it this far. She keeps us in every game. We’re never out of a game with Kim in goal."

For senior forward LeeAnne LeBlanc it wasn’t the way she and the nine other Norwalk seniors planned to end their careers. But she was happy to be a part of this semifinal run. "I’ve been this far before, my sophomore year," LeBlanc said. "I don’t think any of wanted it to end this way. We wanted to be the first Norwalk team to win a state championship. We’re the first Norwalk team in 12 years to score against Greenwich, so we’re so happy for Kenzie scoring that goal. We played a great game, both teams played well. I’m going to miss this so much."

Harrick was excited to cap her defensive career in the scorebook. "This feels awesome," Harrick said. "I’ve been talking about getting up there and I just did it. The season went great. I’m so excited to be a part of this great group of girls."

Greenwich head coach Chrissy Needham said she and her team were prepared for a struggle against the upstart 12th seed. "We knew Norwalk was a very good defensive team," Needham said. "Our kids figured out what they had to do and did a very good job offensively. In a big game we come out with a lot of emotions. The first half was pretty even. About 10 minutes into the second half we got our game going and played the way we can play. Reaching the championship game is a great accomplishment."

Needham also acknowledged that the Cardinals’ only loss to date, a 2-1 win by Brien McMahon Sept. 22 at Casagrande Field, has been a motivating factor in the next 19 games. "The McMahon game gave us perspective," Needham said. "We knew we weren’t playing the way needed to play to win another championship. Since that game we’ve found that level."

House of Pain
For Second Straight Season, Norwalk High School Field Hockey
Eliminated from States at Fairfield Ludlowe's Turf

By Paul Silverfarb psilverfarb@bcnnew.com

Although Norwalk High School head coach Kyle Seaburg takes great pride in his alma mater Fairfield Ludlowe High School, formerly Roger Ludlowe High School, he's not too pleased with it's athletic complex.

Last season, the Norwalk High School field hockey team battled Fairfield Warde High School in the quarterfinals of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference class L tournament, only to see its season come to an abrupt ending.

A year later, the Norwalk field hockey team was on that same turf and unfortunately had the same results. Battling in the semifinals of the class L tournament Tuesday night at Ludlowe High, the Bears fell victim to a juggernaut of a team from Greenwich High School. Norwalk was trailing 1-0 at the break and Greenwich didn't let them get back in the game, using a stifling defense and fast-paced offense to beat the Bears 3-1.

"Although we have lost in States two consecutive years on this field, I still like this high school," said Seaburg. "This is where I went to school, so it's not all that bad. I think we played a great game today and I have no complaints other than the score. Going in to half down 1-0, my team was talking in the huddle, before I even got there, about what they need to do to adjust."

With 16:13 to play in the first half, Greenwich's Marlotte VanDenBergh took a hard shot at the net, but Norwalk goalie Kim Stow was there for the kick save. VanDenBergh had another shot at net with 12:35 to play, as she took the corner pass from Kristen Cole, but again Stow made the stellar save.

"I can't say enough about her," said Seaburg about his junior goalie. "She's a great goalie and keeps us in a lot of our games. She's going to take this loss hard, but that's what I love about Kim. She's going to start thinking about what she needs to do to get ready for next year. She's been keeping us in games all year long and that's what I expect from her. She's one of, if not the best goalie I have ever coached. She's excellent and doesn't let anything shake her. She's a student of the game."

Despite her dominance between the pipes, the Cardinals were able to score first. With 8:01 to play in the half and on a corner opportunity, Cole took the ball and passed to VanDenBergh, who stopped the ball and dished it to Gabrielle Geronimos. She then passed to Alexandra Hearn in front of the net for the goal.

The Cardinals scored twice more in the second half. With 23:07, Geronimos was at the middle of the scoring circle and blasted the long shot that beat Stow.

"We just had to come out really fast at the beginning," said Geronimos. "We kept control of the ball throughout the game. We really stepped it up, especially in the second half. We just kept going and it all clicked for us."

With 4:03 to play, Cole started a corner opportunity and passed to VanDenBergh, who blasted a rocket from 10 yards out for the goal.

"Our kids have worked really hard and deserve a spot in the state championship game, especially for the kids who have been there before," said Greenwich head coach Chrissy Needham. "It's a sweet thing. But it's really not enough for them. We want to bring it home to Greenwich."

Trailing 3-0 with time running down, the Bears didn't give up and were still playing aggressive offense. Finally with no time on the clock, Norwalk was able to put the ball in the net.

Rules in field hockey state that the game can't end on a corner opportunity, so the Bears took advantage. With one second to play, senior Sarah Mintz took the corner and fellow senior Leeann LeBlanc stopped the ball. She immediately passed to Allie LeBlanc, but the ball was blocked by the Greenwich goalie. However Norwalk was given another corner opportunity with no time left.

This time they scored, and got a goal from a very unlikely source. Again Mintz took the corner and passed to Leeann LeBlanc, who then passed to junior Lisa Casubolo. Although her shot missed net, senior Kenzie Harrick, a senior sweeper, found the loose ball and pushed it in the net for the goal.

For a defender to score a goal is very rare in field hockey and Harrick was no exception. Her goal was her first of the season and the last team goal scored this year.

"It was weird because I just saw it coming and I wasn't in the power position," said Harrick. "It was amazing and I can't believe that it happened. It feels good. The season went great. Starting off, I didn't know how the season would go because we lost a lot of seniors last year. I think we came together and it was really magical to make it this far. These are an amazing group of girls."

Despite the loss, Seaburg said that he couldn't be more proud of his team, especially in the way they kept on attacking the ball in the second half.

"It was one of those things that we talk about, which is pride," said Seaburg. "You're down 3-0 and there is no time on the clock, but as long as you still have a chance to score, go for it. Kenzie has been wanting to score a goal all season. Defenders always want to score a goal, and it was a good thing to see Kenzie score. At the end, it's about pride, having fun and playing. It's the state semifinals, so what better place to show your pride and have a good time."

Pride is something that the Bears could definitely take during this season. This Norwalk High team made it the farthest in state tournament play, and for tri-captain Leeann LeBlanc, it was a memorable season.

"It's always been our goal to go to the championship, but we got this far and that's a first for this team," said LeBlanc. "We all believed in ourselves and felt good, but I think that we played better than the score shows. To end it with our sweeper scoring a goal was perfect. It was a good way to end the game. I think that we had a great season."

Although the Bears lost in the semis, tri-captain Sarah Mintz couldn't be upset with the team's performance, saying that she thought the team played better than its ever played.

"It's really emotional knowing that it's over and that I'll never play for this team again, but we came out today and played hard," said Mintz. "This team gave 150 percent. We grew every day and played better and better."