Cosmos battle past Mt. Abe

If the chill in the air didn't give spectators at Wednesday's VPA Division 2 field hockey quarterfinal goosebumps, the action on the field should have.

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2016-10-27 / Sports http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20161027/SPORTS02/161029601 Cosmos battle past Mt. Abe «» View full-size Springfield's Ashleay Wilcox (stick in hand) races in to celebrate Emilia Battista's game-winning goal. — TIM TAYLOR http://www.eagletimes.com/sites/www.eagletimes.com/files/imagecache/full/SprFH1_2.jpghttp://www.eagletimes.com/sites/www.eagletimes.com/files/imagecache/full/SprFH3_0.jpg By TIM TAYLOR sports@eagletimes.com SPRINGFIELD — If the chill in the air didn't give spectators at Wednesday's VPA Division 2 field hockey quarterfinal goosebumps, the action on the field should have. In a defensive and often aggressive battle of two closely-matched teams, fourth-seeded Springfield battled its way past No. 5 Mt. Abraham 1-0. As the clocked ticked past the midway point of the second half, the Cosmos' Emilia Battista muscled the ball past Mt. Abe's Robyn Arena on a penalty corner for the game's only goal. “They did amazing,” said Springfield co-head coach Kelly DeAngelis. “I think it was an evenly-matched game to start, so we weren't quite sure what to expect because we haven't played them … I'm just beyond proud of them.” The game-winner actually came on a missed shot by Ashleay Wilcox, who didn't seem to mind that the ball didn't go into the cage off her stick as she leapt into Battista's arms at the goal mouth. The goal came during a penalty corner with 13:35 remaining to play. Wilcox initiated the corner with a pass in to Ericka Schoff, who passed it back to Wilcox as she stepped just a few yards inside the end line. Wilcox met with some resistance from the Eagle's Emily Aldrich but was able to block Aldrich with her left arm as Mt. Abe's Olivia Young was closing in from the right side. Wilcox got a right-to-left crossing shot off before Young could move in to make a play and the ball went past Eagles goalkeeper Chessly Jackman. Waiting at the far side of the cage, almost on top of the goal line, were Battista and Arena. The two bashed their sticks against one another and both players went low toward the ground. After several seconds of what looked like a standoff, Battista muscled the ball past Arena and into the back of the cage. “It was a shot on goal, but Emilia was on the post and stuck it for a pass and knocked it in,” Wilcox said.” “I just know that the goalie didn't get it and the girl was behind her on the other team and tried stopping it, and I just pushed her stick in with the ball,” Battista added. “I was basically on the line with one foot.” Battista had to change positions for the game after Makenna Goodrich went down to an injury in Saturday's senior game. “It was a completely different position,” she said. “I had to learn new runs. It's very different than being halfback.” After the goal, Wilcox raced over and jumped into Battista's arms, and Angelina Bigwood ran over to join in the celebration — while the Eagles prepared to continue the fight. Mt. Abe would take the ball quickly to the Springfield end, but as they had done all game, the Cosmos stepped up on defense and with goalie Aunna Parker protecting the house, the hosts turned away any threat to tie the game. “I think both defensive lines were extremely strong,” said Springfield co-head coach Lyndsie Perkins. They are very good at getting their stick low and holding onto the ball. We worked really hard this week, making sure we were ready for it, and I think we were.” “They were putting the pressure on,” DeAngelis said. “When your back's against the wall and you're down, and you know this is it, you try to strike and they definitely had those moments where it got pretty nerve-wracking. They held tough back on D.” Most of the first half was played evenly between the two teams with neither giving much at the defensive ends of the field. The Eagles would attempt their first corner at 9:12, and two more times in the final four minutes of the half. They would put the pressure on, but were unable to find a hole in the defense. As the second half got underway, Mt. Abe quickly established the momentum, but again came away empty on what looked like two prime corner opportunities. Springfield would get its first corner of the second half at 21:15 and a goal looked almost certain. Wilcox pushed the ball to Bigwood, but as she passed to Therrien, who had only Jackman to beat at the goal mouth, a Mt. Abe stick got just enough of the ball to deflect it away from Therrien and keep the game scoreless. The Cosmos took corners at 20:12 and again at 19:58, the latter resulting in an apparent goal as Therrien and Battista crashed the goal, but just before the ball went into the cage the referee whistled it dead for a foot foul. Mt. Abe would move the ball back down the field and get another corner, to no avail, and then the Cosmos got two more, at 14:31 and 14:01. The second one resulted in the game's lone goal. Mt. Abe was clearly better than its 6-7-1 record coming in would indicate (13 of its games were against Division 1 opponents). “We came out on the winning end today, which is wonderful, but we still have some more work to do and another team to face on Monday,” Perkins said. That team is the eighth seed, Harwood (6-6-1), which stunned top-seeded Spaulding 1-0. Springfield (9-4-1) and the Highlanders will square off in the semifinals Monday at 3:30 p.m. at Middlebury College.