Cosmos get untracked with win over Slaters

Field hockey at Springfield.
http://rutlandherald.com/article/20140907/SPORTS02/709079997

Published September 7, 2014 in the Rutland Herald Cosmos get untracked with win over Slaters By POODY WALSH Correspondent SPRINGFIELD — Through the first two games of the season the Springfield field hockey team was not only winless, but had not scored, which was quite naturally a huge concern for first-year co-coaches Lyndsie Perkins and Kelly Ranado. Well, they both can take a deep breath as both problems were solved as not only did the Cosmos score, but a 3-1 win over Fair Haven gave the Cosmos their first victory. “And we did it during our first home game,” said Ranado after the Marble Valley League contest. The Saturday morning game at Michelle Porter Field saw the Cosmos take a first-half, 2-0 lead, then hold the Slaters to one goal during a 15-minute second half surge that tested the dexterity of sophomore keeper Katie Masure. Springfield finally relieved the pressure with a goal with 1:32 to play. “Feels great,” said Ranado. “I think we played with a lot of passion today.” While the Cosmos were enjoying the victory it was one of those tough-to-take losses for the Slaters who fell to 0-2-1. “The first two minutes killed us,” said veteran Fair Haven coach Tosh Stickney in reference to the quick start by the Cosmos. “I’m pleased with the way we played in the second half, but the first half was a killer.” The game featured some strong goaltending at both ends of the field as the offense flowed back and forth. Fair Haven ended up with 11 shots on Masure while Slater Jenna Alexander was equally busy with 10 saves. Corners, which result from deep forays downfield, were 12 for Springfield and 10 for Fair Haven. Springfield sweeper Nicole Patterson was the offensive catalyst for the Cosmos at the start of the game. With less than three minutes gone in the contest Cosmo Allison Worster found an opening in the defense, but her shot was kicked out by Alexander. Unfortunately for Alexander and fortunately for Patterson the rebound when right to the Cosmo who flicked it in. Then almost 20 minutes later it was Patterson converting off a Cosmos corner. The score stayed that way until halftime only because Masure kicked out a blistering shot by Briley Blackbird in the final 40 seconds. The momentum created by Blackbird’s near miss seemed to carry into the second half as Fair haven quickly made it a one-goal game less that two minutes in when Elly Maynard knocked in a rebound from a Nikki Bruno shot. The score stayed that way for a long time, but it wasn’t because the Slaters were not trying. Time and time again they drove the field, got into position to do dome damage, but never could get the equalizer. In one stretch they had four straight corners and eight corners in the half.