The Christopher High varsity field hockey team scored 10 goals
in 14 league games last season. After one Mission Trail Athletic
League contest in 2011, the Cougars are well on their way to
smashing that total.
After watching her team put forward a lackadaisical effort in a 4-1 loss to Westmont on Tuesday, Christopher High field hockey head coach Lia Peterson wasn’t exactly sure what to expect from the Cougars as they opened Mission Trail Athletic League play against Carmel on Wednesday.
Though she figured her team would come out with much more gusto, a CHS version of an offensive onslaught didn’t cross her mind.
“They were just asleep yesterday so I didn’t know what I was going to have today,” Peterson said. “I just told them to play their best, work on what they didn’t work on yesterday – playing the field, passing to each other and that’s pretty much it.”
CHS did play its best, and in fact, recorded its highest scoring output in their two-year varsity history, clipping the Padres 5-0 in Gilroy.
The Cougars mustered 10 goals and two wins in 14 league games last season; by the end of Wednesday’s 60-minute affair a much-improved offense paved the way to shattering 2010’s marks.
“It was very, very important for them to get this first win. Hopefully it will set the tone for the rest of the season,” coach Peterson said.
Senior Abby Smith wasted little time depositing Christopher’s first goal, finding the back of the cage 49 seconds into the first half. Three minutes later, Maddie Peterson collected the ball in the circle and lifted a crafty backhanded shot up and over the stick of Carmel’s charging goalkeeper for a 2-0 Cougars’ advantage.
“For them it’s very important (to get an early lead), especially based on past seasons,” coach Peterson said. “I think that it really built their self esteem and the momentum for them to keep going.”
Chances to increase the lead in the first half escaped the Cougars, whether it was a bouncing ball taking one too many hops over a stick or skipping just wide of the net. Arianna Vasquez fed Mariah Martinez a pass into the circle for one of the better scoring opportunities of the first half, the shot, though, went wide.
However, the offensive pressure established in the first 30 minutes carried over to the second half and made for a loaded final 10 minutes.
Kyle Robinson finished off a Smith charge to make it 3-0 CHS with 10:53 to play. Less than a minute later Peterson punctuated another rush – which, similar to the others, was kick started in the defensive third or the midfield by players such as Kristen Mank, Jasmine Estrada and Janelle Hernandez – with her second of the contest. Peterson wasn’t done, and with 3:33 remaining capped a hat trick with a dribbling score and the 5-0 cushion.
“I think they were doing a better job of using the players they have rather than trying to just jam it in,” coach Peterson said.
CHS continues MTAL play 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at home against York before concluding the week on the road versus Santa Catalina.
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