Shawn Nisson
Associated Press
REISTERSTOWN, Md. -- As her team jumped for joy and unfurled a blue and yellow banner in her honor, Pocomoke head coach Susan Pusey had a tear in her eye Wednesday.
The team had just shut out Loch Raven 7-0 in the 1A state semifinal round of the Maryland Public Secondary School Athletic Association playoffs and secured their spot in the state title game at Washington College. While the squad was overjoyed to have the opportunity to play for a record-tying ninth straight state field hockey title, they seemed more happy for their head coach who just collected her 300th career win at Pocomoke.
"I don't know if that says I'm getting old, or what it means," cracked the 20-year veteran of the sideline. "It's nice but it's because I've had good kids, I give them all the credit. It's not me, it's the kids -- they do what I ask them to do and they work hard. That is where it all comes from."
Pocomoke (15-3) and their trademark hard work was evident from the opening whistle on, as they hemmed Loch Raven (6-10) inside of their own half of the field. The Warriors would break onto the scoreboard in the 12th minute of the contest, as junior Abbey Shobe drove into the Raiders circle with possession on her stick.
Shobe got a shot off on goal that junior Shelby Woods would deflect mid-flight, sending the ball into the back of the cage and giving Pocomoke a 1-0 lead with 19:01 left to play in the first half. The strike by Woods was the first goal Loch Raven had allowed in this year's playoffs, a stretch that ran over three games.
The Warriors were far from finished as they would double lead just under 10 minutes later, striking on a fast break opportunity. Sophomore Phobe Rantz received a pass as she charged down the far side of the field before breaking in to the Raiders circle. Once inside of the circle Rantz lifted a shot to the far post that bested Loch Raven keeper Cori Kosko.
Pocomoke would tally once more before halftime as Shobe would score on a fast break. The midfielder touched the ball into the circle before ripping a shot to the far post that would find the back of the cage, enlarging the Warrior's lead to 3-0 with 4:40 left to play in the half.
The Warriors would strike again shortly into the second half, as they would tally off a penalty corner opportunity. Woods would insert the ball into play sending a pass to junior Jessie Todd at the top of the circle. Todd slid a pass to her left, connecting with teammate Skylar Hall. On her first touch Hall, a senior defender, smashed a shot that found the back of the goal giving Pocomoke a 4-0 lead with 28:49 left to play.
Shobe would tally her second strike of the contest off a pretty backhand that she lifted into the cage to make it a 5-0 contest. Woods would then get her second goal of the contest, before Ma'Nasia Ross capped off the Warriors scoring with a strike from close range.
"I thought we started off a little slow on offense," said Pusey. "Defensively we played strong all game. But I thought we were bunching up, we weren't playing our kind of game in the first half, spreading the field. But in the second half I thought we did a much better job of that and I just thought we got into our passing game and moved the ball well."
The Warriors now have a chance to capture their record-tying ninth straight state field hockey title and 17th state championship overall, as they move on to play in the 1A State Championship game Saturday at Washington College starting at 6:30 p.m.
"We are very excited to play for another state title," said Pusey. "People didn't think we were going to do it this year, they didn't even think we would make it this far, but we are here and we're going to take advantage of it. We are going to give it all we have and play the best we can, that's what how we want to play this final game."
Source; http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20111110/SPORTS/111100377/-1/NLETTER01/Pocomoke-finals-bound?source=nletter-news
The team had just shut out Loch Raven 7-0 in the 1A state semifinal round of the Maryland Public Secondary School Athletic Association playoffs and secured their spot in the state title game at Washington College. While the squad was overjoyed to have the opportunity to play for a record-tying ninth straight state field hockey title, they seemed more happy for their head coach who just collected her 300th career win at Pocomoke.
"I don't know if that says I'm getting old, or what it means," cracked the 20-year veteran of the sideline. "It's nice but it's because I've had good kids, I give them all the credit. It's not me, it's the kids -- they do what I ask them to do and they work hard. That is where it all comes from."
Pocomoke (15-3) and their trademark hard work was evident from the opening whistle on, as they hemmed Loch Raven (6-10) inside of their own half of the field. The Warriors would break onto the scoreboard in the 12th minute of the contest, as junior Abbey Shobe drove into the Raiders circle with possession on her stick.
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Pocomoke field hockey players, including goalkeeper Jessica Benoit, left, congratulate coach Susan Pusey, right, after winning a Class 1A state semfinal against Loch Raven Wednesday at Franklin High School in Reisterstown. Pocomoke beat Loch Raven 7-0 for Pusey's 300th win. / STEVE RUARK/THE DAILY TIMES |
The Warriors were far from finished as they would double lead just under 10 minutes later, striking on a fast break opportunity. Sophomore Phobe Rantz received a pass as she charged down the far side of the field before breaking in to the Raiders circle. Once inside of the circle Rantz lifted a shot to the far post that bested Loch Raven keeper Cori Kosko.
Pocomoke would tally once more before halftime as Shobe would score on a fast break. The midfielder touched the ball into the circle before ripping a shot to the far post that would find the back of the cage, enlarging the Warrior's lead to 3-0 with 4:40 left to play in the half.
The Warriors would strike again shortly into the second half, as they would tally off a penalty corner opportunity. Woods would insert the ball into play sending a pass to junior Jessie Todd at the top of the circle. Todd slid a pass to her left, connecting with teammate Skylar Hall. On her first touch Hall, a senior defender, smashed a shot that found the back of the goal giving Pocomoke a 4-0 lead with 28:49 left to play.
Shobe would tally her second strike of the contest off a pretty backhand that she lifted into the cage to make it a 5-0 contest. Woods would then get her second goal of the contest, before Ma'Nasia Ross capped off the Warriors scoring with a strike from close range.
"I thought we started off a little slow on offense," said Pusey. "Defensively we played strong all game. But I thought we were bunching up, we weren't playing our kind of game in the first half, spreading the field. But in the second half I thought we did a much better job of that and I just thought we got into our passing game and moved the ball well."
The Warriors now have a chance to capture their record-tying ninth straight state field hockey title and 17th state championship overall, as they move on to play in the 1A State Championship game Saturday at Washington College starting at 6:30 p.m.
"We are very excited to play for another state title," said Pusey. "People didn't think we were going to do it this year, they didn't even think we would make it this far, but we are here and we're going to take advantage of it. We are going to give it all we have and play the best we can, that's what how we want to play this final game."
Source; http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20111110/SPORTS/111100377/-1/NLETTER01/Pocomoke-finals-bound?source=nletter-news
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