Pocomoke field hockey coach Susan Pusey felt confident coming into the MPSSAA 1A state final, knowing that if the Warriors played their precision passing game, they most likely would be successful in capturing their seventh straight state title.
In the championship tilt Saturday, the Warriors' execution was nearly flawless, as Taylor West scored three goals, with the first tally coming just more than two minutes into the contest, en route to a 5-1 victory over Bohemia Manor, a first-time playoff participant.
"We always talk before the game that we need to come out with a bang," said West, a junior forward. "It catches other teams off guard sometimes, so you always want to come out strong."
West certainly started the game out with a bang, as she rang a laser shot off the back board of the Bohemia Manor cage to give Pocomoke an early 1-0 lead. The Warriors opened the game with possession and worked their way into the Eagles' circle, earning a penalty corner before the game was two minutes old. Pocomoke senior Michelle Roberts sent the ball into play, finding the stick of Kasey Tapman. Tapman then tapped the ball over to West, who unloaded on the ball and sent it into the far corner of the Eagles' cage.
"They wanted to score in the first three minutes. That was there goal," Pusey said. "They came out and did it. Normally, when they set there mind to something, they do pretty well at doing it."
The Warriors were far from finished, as they doubled their lead just six minutes later. Tapman created a turnover 30 yards from goal and weaved around multiple Eagle defenders on her way to the circle. On the junior's first step into the circle, she ripped a rocket shot that went through the wickets of the Bohemia keeper, giving Pocomoke a 2-0 lead.
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