Summit Goalie Saves Game for Field Hockey Squad

The Summit High School field hockey team added yet another win to their record, bringing the overall tally to 11 wins, 5 losses and 1 tie. The Hilltoppers beat Montclair Kimberly Academy 2-1 on Tuesday.

The first half came and went without any scores. The Hilltoppers were just getting adjusted to the grass as the whistle blew.  A field hockey game played on grass is completely different from the turf field that Summit is accustomed to. The grass changes the outcome of the hits that are taken, slows the speed of the game and forces the girls to alter their footing.

Summit was experiencing other difficulties aside from the grass factor in the first half. The Hilltoppers were unable to connect their passes and were not marking to the best of their ability.

"We pulled it together in the second half," said Head coach Jen Schwarzenbek "We put the first half behind us and refined both our passing and marking.  Thankfully it paid off and the team was able to play their game."

The Hilltoppers are still missing one of their key starters to injury, junior Taylor Kastenbaum.

"Missing Taylor is like missing part of our unit," Schwarzenbek said. "The team unity is lacking and we hope to have her back as soon as we can."

It took only seven minutes for Summit to get into their groove before scoring in the second half.  Junior Katie Birle scored the first goal of the game. Fellow junior, Caroline Cordrey assisted Birle from the upper right corner of the circle.

Less than two minutes later, Montclair Kimberley Academy was there to even out the score. Senior Skylar Zlotnick made the only goal for her team; her goal came unassisted.

Both sides were anxious to get another goal with the score now tied at 1-1. Time began to fly by as the ball continuously switched fields and changed possession. Montclair Kimberley Academy had the ball in Summit's circle and took numerous shots, but not one was successful.

The Hilltoppers soon gained control of the ball and brought it into the Montclair Kimberley Academy circle.  After a string of penalty corners, Summit got down to business. Cordrey took the insert and passed to senior Hannah Pollinger.  Pollinger dribbled the ball a few yards and made the last successful shot.  The game soon ended with a final score of 2-1, Summit.

"I rocked it," said Grace Berkery with a laugh when asked about her performance Tuesday. The junior goalie had 23 saves.

"Grace saved the game for us," Cordrey said. "She never gave up and it was really inspiring. She was there to pick up everyone's slack in the entire first half and until we got it together in the second half. She has a really important job and she is fantastic at it."

The Summit High School field hockey team will play Governor Livingston at home on Thursday at 4 p.m.

"We will be working on our marking and moving to the ball for
Thursday's game," Schwarzenbek said.