Trojans, Falcons Play To Tie

Winless in conference play, both Pottstown and visiting Pottsgrove managed to keep that dubious distinction despite playing each other. A late goal in regulation and a scoreless but exciting overtime led to a 2-2 tie as the Falcons and Trojans played game one of a two-day field hockey doubleheader.

Both programs were also playing their second game in as many days, with Pottsgrove falling to Upper Perkiomen and the Trojans losing to Reading in another overtime contest the day before.

"We've been back-to-back, having these kinds of games because of the weather," Pottsgrove head coach Christine Campbell said. "It's not anything where we kind of come up with a strategy to get through the games."

The game appeared evenly matched, as both teams moved the ball in the first half, with neither seeming able to establish dominance over the other. Pottsgrove's Emily Delana opened up scoring, striking a pass from mid-air to find the boards. The Trojans responded with a Sierra Duvivier goal to enter the half tied 1-1.

Pottstown's Milan White moved the ball effectively against the Falcons, splitting defenders and able to move with impunity from one end to the other. Despite her Teflon ball handling she did not get a clean shot off in regulation, as the defense managed to contain her when it counted.

The game continued to be an up and down affair in the second, but where before it had the rhythm and flow of a basketball game it now went from one prolonged assault to another, a nerve wracking way for goalies to spend a game. Pottstown weathered the storm first, holding off two consecutive Falcons corners before finally managing to get the ball up field. Once there, the Trojans made the most of the situation when Chante Tinson-Wise put one past goalie Jennifer Newton for the lead on a corner. Newton played particularly well in the second frame, stopping two point blank shots to keep the Grove alive.

"She (Newton) did real well," Campbell said. "She just came back. We had her out with injuries … she did really well. This is her first game actually back in the cage."

That effort would eventually pay off. With under three minutes to play in the game, the Falcons once more went on the offensive in an attempt to get the tying score. Finally, Abigail Girafaico hit one home on a diving shot off of an arcing pass through the circle with under a minute to play, sending the game into overtime.

White took control after regulation, knocking Pottsgrove back on their heels while the Trojans fired off two quick shots. The Falcons turned the tide, however, and by keeping only one player back on defense utilized an effective forecheck to keep the ball in the Trojans end for much of the extra period. Pottstown held strong however, and the game ended knotted at 2-2.

The second hockey game of the Mervine Street Showdown will be tomorrow at Pottsgrove.

"It was a great game," Campbell said. "Intense. Very intense."