BY JEFF FALK

HUMMELSTOWN – It’s now part of the expectations for the Annville-Cleoan field hockey program.

With increased expectations come a greater focus on success – as well as a larger potential for disappointment.

On a balmy Wednesday evening on Lower Dauphin Middle School’s Kreiser-Hallman turf field, the Little Dutchmen’s successful fall campaign came crashing down in heart-breaking fashion, with a 2-1 overtime loss to Susquenita, in the consolation bracket of the District Three Class A tournament. The Blackhawks’ Evin Fisher registered a ‘golden goal’ 8:16 into the initial, 15-minute sudden-death OT session, after Annville-Cleona had led for most of the second half.

The result sent the seventh-seeded Little Dutchmen home with a 15-7 overall record. Five of Annville-Cleona’s losses came over its last six outings.

Susquenita, the tournament’s 11th seed, improved to 13-7-1 on the year.

“It was a good season,” said Annvlle-Cleona head coach Carrie Gingrich, whose charges finished as runners-up in Section Three of the Lancaster-Lebanon League. “We have three seniors, and two start. We’re very young. Of the 11 starters, three are freshmen and three are sophomores. That’s the positive out of it. It’s tough on the seniors, but the younger girls are upset as well. I’m glad to see that. That’s a positive, looking towards our future.

“We always think we can win the section,” Gingrich added. “We were this close to making it to states.”

Fisher’s overtime game-winner originated from a rush down the right side of the field. She ripped a low, well-placed blast that beat Annville-Cleona goalie Grace Coleman.

Fisher’s goal was unassisted.

“We knew they were fast,” said Gingrich of the Blackhawks. “If they got the ball on a quick breakaway, it was going to be tough. They have a couple of really quick players.”

The Little Dutchmen had opened a 1-0 lead on an unassisted goal from Emily Brightbill, 3:40 before the break. Following some extended Annville-Cleona pressure, Brightbill found the ball on her stick, spun and drilled a reverse shot into the Susquenita cage.

The goal was Brightbill’s ninth of the season.

“She’s got a quick stick,” said Gingrich of Brightbill. “It was a little shot to the corner.

“I thought we played really well,” continued Gingrich. “In the first half, we played awesome. I told them (her players) that they (the Blackhawks) were going to come out hard in the second half. For the most part, we played well. We knew no one’s going to be easy in the playoffs.”

Susquenita’s Ashley Sheibley manufactured the goal that sent the game to overtime. It came with 7:23 left in regulation.

“We were ranked seventh,” said Gingrich of her club’s tournament seeding. “They (the Blackhawks) had a decent record. I thought we were evenly matched.”

For the game, Annville-Cleona out shot Susquenita 13-7. The Blackhawks enjoyed a slight 5-4 edge in penalty corners.

To purchase images in this article email jkfalk2005@yahoo.com, or to view more go to https://lebanonsportsbuzz.com/photo-gallery/.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018 Annville-Cleona Field Hockey Results