Wildcats Play Each Other in Field Hockey

In a friendly between University School's two varsity level field hockey teams, the USM Varsity defeated the USM Varsity Reserve 4-0 Thursday on the turf of USM's Liz Krieg Field.

Throughout the game, both teams' coaches encouraged the players on both teams and gave helpful tips to members of each team.  Players cheered the accomplishments of their schoolmates on either team. The defenses of both teams played well.  Michelle Bal, Abby Wigdale, Merrill Read, Madeline Joerres, Lexi Van Den Heuvel, Darryl Perry, Julia Radke, Kiran Kutticat, and Abby Leitschuh stopped their opponents with good positioning and well-timed tackles and jabs. The Varsity defense kept their opponent forwards out of the Varsity D and did not allow them to take a shot on Olivia Williamson the goalkeeper on the Varsity side.  Meanwhile, the Varsity Reserve defenders stopped all but one of the Varsity's ten short corner attempts, including a brilliant stop of shot by Kutticat during a Varsity corner play as the first half expired.

Rose Revolinski scored the game's first two goals. The first came during a short corner play at 4:15. At the top of the circle, Kendall Youngblood tapped the ball to Abby Wigdale.  With a pass as beautiful as a movie star in a magazine, Wigdale moved the ball straight to the stick of her ice hockey teammate, Revolinski, who fired it past Molly Meinecke, the Varsity Reserve’s goalkeeper.

Revolinski scored her second goal during a scramble for the ball in front of the Varsity Reserve net.  Like they were trading secrets, Revolinski and Meredith Jeffers exchanged passes until Revolinski spotted an opening and swept the ball into net at 17:56.

The Varsity increased its lead when Youngblood received a long pass from Bal on the left side in the middle of the field.  She deftly stickhandled the ball to the top of the Varsity Reserve circle and lasered a low shot into the net at 22:12 of the first half. 

The coaches from both teams made suggestions to each team during the halftime, and the USM players took their advice to heart.  The Varsity players worked on their passing and on reversing the field out of the back.  The Varsity Reserve players tightened their defense, played more aggressively on the Varsity side of the field, and made good connective plays as they moved up the field.  As a result the two teams displayed a fine half of field hockey to the many fans witnessing the game, including the middle school team members who were there to learn from watching their soul sisters play good field hockey.

The only goal of the second half came at 10:11.  Anna Prising passed the ball to Catherine Jacobus who made a brilliant play at the edge of the Varsity Reserve circle and sent the ball into to Grace Florsheim who was heading toward the net.  Florsheim controlled the ball and flicked it into the net.

The Varsity Reserve team is now 0-3-1.  Its next game is against Arrowhead at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday in Hartland.  The Varsity team is now 4-1.  Its next game is at 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday against Divine Savior Holy Angels at USM.