After playing in the MAX Field Hockey National Invitational in late September, Garrison Forest’s field hockey players knew they had to make a few adjustments on defense.
Not that the Grizzlies weren’t winning — they opened 5-0 before going 1-1-1 against top teams from Pennsylvania and Connecticut at the tournament. But to beat the top Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference teams they would face at the end of the season, they needed to move a few players around and tighten up the back.
“Some of the things we needed to work on became very apparent during that tournament,” said Grizzlies coach Mimi Smith, “so we had to have some difficult conversations and we did and we made the adjustments and it worked. Right now what’s working for us and what the difference is is that the team is buying into the plan and they believe in the process.”
The No. 3 Grizzlies notched their eighth shutout of the season Tuesday with a 3-0 victory over No. 5 Notre Dame Prep, the third-place team in the A Conference behind Garrison Forest and No. 2 Archbishop Spalding. Beginning with their final game at the MAX tournament, a 2-0 win over Staples, Conn., the Grizzlies (12-1-1, 8-0 conference) have shut out six of their last seven opponents and allowed just one goal during that stretch.
Senior goalie Alyssa Klebasko, who finished with three saves against NDP, said the changes have really helped.
“We’ve just been working very hard on defense in practice,” she said, “and I think as a result, our confidence has started to grow and we’re becoming more comfortable in the back and stepping up and making the plays we need to make.”
With Morgan Qualls in the back, Augusta Santarelli on the left and Grace Barta on the right, the Grizzlies make it tough for opponents as Notre Dame Prep found out Tuesday. The Blazers (10-2, 5-2) had opportunities to create shots but they managed just three.
“We’ve been working on being calm and collected on defense,” Qualls said, “and really being patient and just kind of trusting each other to get the ball, so stepping off when you know your teammates has it, that allows us to be less frantic in the circle. A lot of that comes from communication from Alyssa… but I think it’s a credit to all of us because we are all aware of where everyone is supposed to be.”
The Blazers had their best chances to score early with three penalty corners in the first quarter. They took three shots, but Klebasko stopped them all. They didn’t manage another shot.
Still the game was much closer than the final score.
Ella Kokinis scored the first of her two goals on a penalty corner in the first quarter. Izzy Vickery passed the ball from just outside the circle to Kokinis, who dodged one defender and slammed a reverse-stick shot down the middle.
The Grizzlies, who didn’t take a shot in the first quarter, finished with 22, but Blazers goalie Kerigan Ross made 18 saves to keep her team within a goal until the fourth quarter.
Kokinis scored off a crossing pass from Avery McComas just over a minute into the final quarter. With 4:13 left, Alex Jordan finished off a breakaway goal on an assist from Vickery.
The Blazers, who don’t start a single senior, played a much better game Tuesday than in last week’s 4-0 loss to Spalding, coach Katrina Ross said.
“We stuck to our game plan, played a great defensive game,” she said. “We got back to playing better small hockey. The difference between Spalding and this game was that we didn’t hold onto the ball long. We really played a nice passing game, [but] we couldn’t capitalize on our attacking opportunities. We got the ball up there, but we didn’t get many shots, so the next step is what do we need to do in the circle to get those shots off.”
Tuesday in the regular-season finale, the Grizzlies host defending champion Archbishop Spalding (14-2, 7-0) in what should be a battle for the top-seeded spot in the A Conference tournament which begins Oct. 27. The Grizzlies don’t play until then, but Spalding hosts No. 12 Mount de Sales Thursday.
Last season, the Grizzlies defeated Spalding during the regular season before falling, 3-0, in the championship game.
“We’ve had this game in our minds since before preseason, especially for the ones of us who’ve been here last year,” Kokinis said. “We are really excited for this game. We’ll be prepping for it all week.”
NO. 3 GARRISON FOREST 3, NO. 5 NOTRE DAME PREP 0
GF 0 1 0 2 — 3
NDP 0 0 0 0 — 0
GOALS: GF—Ella Kokinis 2, Alex Jordan
ASSISTS: GF—Izzy Vickery 2, Avery McComas
SAVES: GF—Alyssa Klebasko. 3; NDP—Kerigan Ross, 18
