Golden Panthers Hold Off Pottsgrove's Push

The Falcons (1-11-1 in PAC-10 play) took to the field on a mist shrouded senior night as they attempted to earn their second conference win against Pope John Paul II (5-6) in Frontier Division field hockey. Kristi Sauerman and the Golden Panther's early offensive pressure proved to be too much, as they held off a furious rally to close out the 3-2 win.

The seniors named favorite memories during the pre-game honors and Grove goalkeeper Jenn Newton's pre-season antics were a particular favorite. It seems -- in a bid to hide from Pottsgrove head coach Christine Campbell and the sprints she was seeking -- Newton dove behind the cage for cover. She was not hiding now, front and center under the lights, facing a pressuring Panthers attack and playing strongly with 19 saves. The Falcons trended with Newton, as acrobatic individual saves kept the Grove in the game and the sideline excited.

"Jenn Newton had some great saves in the cage," Campbell said.

The Panthers controlled much of the first half, controlling the middle of the field and keeping the majority of play on the Pottsgrove side. The attacking style paid of quickly, as Sauerman struck first less than two minutes into the game. A sprawling Newton was too slow with the stick as Sauerman snuck one by on the low left side.

The Falcons managed some forays into the Golden Panther's end, but were met by a quick and ball hawking defense in front of keeper Marley Golato. That defense fended off three Falcon corners after the opening goal before breaking down field and finding Sauerman in the circle on a crossing pass for her second goal of the night and the two point lead.

Pottsgrove finally got on the board at the 10:52 mark, as Ashley Haraczka poked a pass from Abigail Girafalco past Golato. With under two minutes to play in the opening frame, Newton made a spectacular kick save on Sauerman to keep the deficit to one.

The break in the action proved to be the quiet before the storm. An up and down affair developed in the second, as both teams found more room to run and the game built in speed and excitement. The Falcons took advantage of the decidedly quicker pace first when Taylor Robinson found the boards from inside a tangled mass of players.

"I think the girls just picked it up," Campbell said of her team's second half resurgence. "Their aggression and motivation; they came out harder."

Robinson and the Panthers' Erin Price were their respective team's engines in transition, helping to dictate the tempo. Both were equally effective in opposite ways. Robinson's precision passes found their marks up field, while Price was a one girl fast break, utilizing her raw speed on the sideline to spark the Panthers. Price also emerged with a garbage goal midway through the half, hitting home the rebound for the go ahead score.

Pottsgrove had a sizable lead in corners on the night. While 9 of their 13 came in the second, the visitors had more shots. The lead was almost extended numerous occasions before time ran out, but a combination of misfires and Newton saves kept the Falcons one goal from overtime. A stroke for Brooke Petery sailed high over the cage, while Sauerman had a miss just wide on a clean fast break. An exciting glove save from Newton ignited a final frantic push for the tie.

The Falcons were briefly without Robinson to key their offensive when she left the game to get her hand wrapped, but she returned at the 6:16 mark. The Grove shifted defenses, leaving only a single player back, in an attempt to establish a forecheck with under two minutes to play. The strategy worked, as Pottsgrove was able to put pressure on the Panthers until the last few seconds, when Pope John Paul simply moved the ball up field to ice the win.

"It was a good game, a great game. Everybody played well, very aggressive," the congenial Campbell said, gracious in defeat.

"They're a good group of girls. They played their hearts out tonight."