Browsing: Field Hockey

Hope Cree brings the ball upfield.Deborah Wallace embraces seniors Annie Grace Louthan and Jillian Peupkke. When a goal from Morgan Mick hit the back of the box, it gave Matoaca a 1-0 lead over Glen Allen. That goal was what propelled the Warriors to their first state tournament.  But a lot more went into the making of the team. The roots can be traced all the way back to second grade for seniors Annie Grace Louthan and Ally Butler. That’s when they started playing field hockey together for the Richmond Panthers United field hockey club. They’re gunning for a state…

https://youtu.be/4W6IXOkBKb4 Continuing what has been a triumphant season so far, Matoaca High’s field hockey team has a 11-1 record after topping Colonial Heights in a 10-0 “mercy-rule” victory on Wednesday, Oct. 9. One of the big reasons for their overall success has been senior Annie Grace Louthan. Louthan is Matoaca’s vocal leader, but she also lets her stick do the talking. She scored her 100th goal against Hopewell on Oct. 2 and now sits at 108 goals with three games left in her senior season. (The Warriors faced Thomas Dale on Monday.) Louthan scored six of the team’s goals against…

Left to right: Front, Anna Pletch and Annie Grace Louthan; middle, coach Deborah Wallace, Lindsey Shank, Jillian Pueppke, Emily Law, Laura Pfitzer, Alivia Patterson, Sophie Moore and coach Pletch; back, Morgan Mick, Ally Butler, Sam Denney, Evan Renee Winter, Erin Lovato and Hope Cree. By Soren Rutherford A month into the season, Matoaca High School’s field hockey team has a 6-1 record, with their only loss in an overtime match with Deep Run, 2-1. “We are doing really well as a team,” coach Deborah Wallace said. “And we’re working hard to improve every day.” Annie Grace Louthan is a standout…

Anna Reams passes the ball ahead to Morgan Sink during Thomas Dale’s contest against Clover Hill last Thursday. (Josh Mathews photo) By Soren Rutherford Thomas Dale In her first year coaching the varsity, Emily Vayo has vast plans and goals for the Thomas Dale Knights. Seeing as the program had its struggles last year, finishing 5-10, the Knights have a new outlook. “Overall, we have a fairly young team this year,” Vayo said, noting that she has only four returning starters. The Knights look toward their returning captains Madison Swift and Anna Reams for much-needed leadership and mentoring for the…

Thomas Dale Girls Volleyball The Knights look to bounce back this season after finishing with a 12-12 record and losing to Clover Hill in the first round of the conference tournament. The loss of standout outside-hitter Sydney Frink was a big blow to the Lady Knights; she had the first team All-Conference honor and ended her career as one of the best players in Thomas Dale girls’ volleyball history. First-year coach Kirk Jennings, a former Thomas Dale baseball standout, believes that this team can be just as good as last year’s team, if not better, with key players returning such…

Aubree Carasquillo, a Matoaca High field hockey standout has signed with Shenandoah University. The center midfielder played five season for the Warriors and served as varsity team captain for two years. Her many field hockey recognitions include Most Valuable Player, All-Academic Conference 12 team and All Conference 12 First team. In addition to earning a 3.8 GPA, Carasquillo participated in school activities such as the Key Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Health Organization Student Association serving as chapter vice president for the latter. During her senior year, Carasquillo earned her National Certification as a Physical Therapy Assistant (CPTA). Carasquillo…

L.C. Bird field hockey coach Veronica Zuccarello moved here from New Jersey on a Friday. On Monday, she met her team. Both coach and team have had a season to remember, as the Skyhawks are headed to regionals for the first time since 2004. “The season has been awesome for them,” Zuccarello said. “But it’s been more awesome for me, they just don’t know that.” Zuccarello calls the team her “best friends.” After all, they were among the first people she met in addition to the people she spent the most time with. “They are a huge part of my…

Prince George (12-4) Heading into the Conference 12 playoffs in 2014, Prince George was riding high. They were young, the top seed in the tournament and had played a tough schedule very well. Then they got upset by Matoaca in the first round. Their season was over. A refocused Royals team didn’t succumb to the same fate in 2015, as they defeated Highland Springs to advance to 5A South Regionals, and then beat L.C. Bird to take home the Conference 12 Championship. “This year is a better feeling than last year,” said coach Ann Lambert. “You never think you’re…

Vince Lombardi once said, “Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.” Former Matoaca field hockey player Sarah Brock, a senior on the Shenandoah University team, exemplifies leadership and effort for the Hornets. Shenandoah coach Ashley Smeltzer-Kraft thinks that these qualities have been a big part of the team’s success this season. Shenandoah is currently 10-5, but more importantly 5-1 in ODAC (Old Dominion Athletic Conference) play. Brock, a team captain, takes on many roles including directing her…

When it comes to field hockey, Clover Hill has been knocking on the door for sometime now. One of the most competitive teams in the Central Region, coach Rhonda Clopton believes her Cavaliers will get over the hump this year, meaning they plan on making some noise in the postseason. “I’ve had some teams with powerhouse players,” Clopton said, a Meadowbrook alum. “But this is a very coachable group that wants to be together as a team. I think that shows on the field.” A star from the instant she transferred her sophomore year from Powhatan, senior Maddie Lindsay gets a…

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