Wildcats Begin Title Defense with a Win

In a season-opening field hockey game that matched and Trinity Academy, the teams that competed in last year’s state championship, the defending state champion Wildcats rallied in the second half to defeat the Sentinels 2-1 Thursday at Trinity Academy.

The Sentinels dominated the first half, and had the ball in USM’s end of the field often. The Wildcat defenders, Michelle Bal, Madeline Joerres, Abby Wigdale, and Merrill Read held firm, however, and the half ended scoreless.

At half time, USM’s head coach Tom Carter told the USM team, “That’s probably the worst half of hockey we’ll play all season. They took the first half, but it’s a game of two halves. We need to play the way we can and we’ll win.” Carter revised his formation and sent the team back to the field with confidence.

The Wildcats quickly reversed the trend of the game.  They controlled the middle of the field, moving the ball deep into Trinity territory and into the Sentinels’ circle.  In just the second minute of the second half the Wildcats scored.   As part of the Wildcat’s press, Rose Revolinski intercepted a Trinity 16-yard hit near the 25 yard line.  She raced into the top of the circle and fired a shot.  It flew like a dart at a bull’s eye past Trinity’s goalie Olivia Goltermann at 33:22. 

During one of only four short corners they Wildcats conceded in the game, Trinity tied the score at 51:25 when, from the top of the circle, Kristin Collins drove a rebound past USM’s goalkeeper Molly Meinecke.

The Sentinels’ goal put pressure on the Wildcats, but they responded with poise and scored the game-winning goal at 54:41.  After a terrible Trinity hack, one of USM’s captains, Meredith Jeffers took the free hit.  She spotted Kendall Youngblood sprinting toward the Trinity circle and put a precise pass on Youngblood’s stick. Youngblood pulled the ball past one defender, outraced another, and slid the ball into the net like Cinderella’s foot in the glass slipper.

Trinity had two late chances on a short corner and a long corner play, but Meinecke and her defensive cohorts denied each attempt with consummate skill.

In the game Meinecke made 4 saves, and Goltermann made 4 saves.

USM is now 1-0. The Wildcats return to USM to play their first game on the their new turf field on Tuesday when they host Brookfield Academy at 4:15 p.m.