Pawling & Dover battle to a 1-1 draw in field hockey

Hamner, Djonovic score the two goals

Visit the Photo Gallery for Both Teams

By John M. Benson
October 4, 2007

Pawling and Dover battled to a 1-1 draw in field hockey on October 4 at Pawling.

With Dover coach by Kara Acken and Pawling coached by June Lagan, the teams appeared to be so evenly matched that no outcome other than a draw seemed appropriate.

Michelle Djonovic scored for Dover late in the final two minutes of the first half. Djonovic gained possession at midfield, charged up the right side, turned the corner and approached the goal behind the Pawling defense. She fired a powerful shot up high that barely cleared under the bar, giving the Dragons the 1-0 lead at the halftime break.

Pawling coach June Lagan explained after the game that a shot on goal is permissible if only the goalkeeper is between the shooter and the goal.

Ariana Hamner scored for Pawling midway through the second half to tie the score at 1-1. Hamner had broken free up the middle and made a shot on goal, and when it hit a Dragon foot, Pawling was awarded a penalty corner. Alex Petti took the corner hit, looking around the circle at Hamner, Nora Johnston, Sarah Apple and Jen Rabe. Petti passed to the nearest Tiger, Hamner, who stopped the ball squared up, and fired a rocket that winged inside the far post for the goal and the 1-1 tie with Dover.

The offenses and defenses exchanged outstanding plays throughout the game. The defenses were solid and sure, but the relentless offenses forced their way and achieved numerous opportunities.

Keepers Rebecca McKinney for Pawling and Cassie Hyatt for Dover were nothing short of spectacular, making saves that seemed impossible on attackers with shots from the open or from within a frantic crowd in front of the goal.

The Pawling Roster: Rebecca McKinney, Alex Petti, Ariana Hamner, Sarah Apple, Caitlin Reynolds, Claire Olson, Tara Smith, Elena Herrera, Callen Maguire, Jen Rabe, Monique Lamond, Nora Johnston, Marisa Kaplan and Emily Coursen.

Pawling coach Lagan said after the game, “It was a great game, and we played well. It was a little bit of a slow start for us. I think they surprised us. It was a beautiful goal that they had, and Ariana scored a beautiful goal for us. Djonovic scored their goal on a great shot. You can shoot that high if it is just you and the goalie, and it wasn’t a dangerous swing at all. It was a great shot, and there is not much you can do to defend that shot.

“We got another outstanding game from keeper Rebecca McKinney, who made many great saves today.
 
“I thought we dominated more but we just didn’t finish early enough. We had more shots, but we just didn’t put it in. We will have a little different game plan for the next time, and hopefully it will work for us.

“We persevered, we came back, we never gave up. That is something we always take a lot of pride in, that you try your best no matter what the outcome is. Our girls have done that over and over.

“Ariana scored a great goal for us off the great pass from Alex on the penalty corner. Ariana is starting to get a little hot now with her stick. She traded for her old stick from last year, and I think it is kind of a lucky charm now.

“Overall we played well as a team. Because Tara Smith is out, in order to make it all work, I actually had three girls out there today playing different positions than we have played all year. That is a tribute to them, the way they played so well today under those circumstances.

“We got off some good shots today, and their goalie played an outstanding game today against us. Overall, we did a nice job of passing and moving the ball up and down the field.

“The Dover team has some very nice players, and they are a very good field hockey team.”

The Dover Roster: Alicia Tamboia, Allie Rinaldi, Michelle Djonovic, Carly Anderson, Meghan Lahm, Gina Perri, Lisa Quaglina, Ally Emerson, Kasie Laverro,  Kayla Baruffo, Alexa Schwall, Alexandra Abrams, Chrissy Schlaw and Erin Franco.