EVHS drops a heartbreaker at Grafton

Staff Report
Published: November 3, 2008

After becoming the first team in Eastern View history to advance to the regional playoffs, the Cyclones field hockey team suffered a heartbreaking loss at Grafton, falling 1-0.

“We played as well as we could at times,” EVHS coach Peggy Allen said. “We had opportunities, but they were a more physical team than us. Our kids do not play well when they are bumped around a lot. Teams don’t really play like that in our district.”

Eastern View, which advanced to the Region I tournament after finishing second in the Battlefield District tournament, once again played a fantastic defensive game, holding the Clippers without a goal until the final two minutes. Even then it was a controversial score that gave Grafton the victory.

EVHS’s Ana Gonzalez stopped the ball at the goal line and the Cyclones celebrated, thinking the save came before the ball crossed the line.

But the officials ruled the shot had crossed the line and the score was enough for the Clippers to stay alive with the win.

“It’s just one of those things that in the last two minutes of the game it’s hard to stomach,” Allen said. “We were kind of preparing to go to overtime.”

It was a similar ending as the Battlefield District championship, in which the Cyclones held James Monroe scoreless in regulation before giving up the game-winning goal in overtime.

EVHS goalkeeper Nicole Woodworth finished the year by allowing just one goal in the final 120 minute of play. Allen said her defense was great in the programs first season and the final two games were no exception.

“Nicole played an awesome game and Ana Gonzalez stopped that goal right on the line,” Allen said. “The defense has played well year.”

Though EVHS left disappointed with the result it was a successful season for the fledgling program.

“We talked about how we were very lucky to work with a group of talented and fun young ladies,” Allen said.

“They never quit on you and give everything when they are on the field. That’s why it hurts to lose a game like that.”