By Duncan Nixon
Correspondent
The Fluco field hockey team ran into a buzz saw on Sept. 19. They hosted the undefeated Warriors from Western Albemarle, and the outcome was never in doubt. Fluco goalie, sophomore Savannah Peterson, kicked away several Warrior shots early in the first quarter, but she was under relentless pressure and the Warriors scored five minutes in, and with three minutes left in the quarter, to take a 2-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Warriors completely dominated play, scoring five times for a 7-0 lead at the half. The Fluco defense was unable to clear the ball from in front of the goal, and most of the scores came from point blank range. Western Albemarle scored a final goal in the third quarter and the game was ended after three quarters on the mercy rule.
After the game, Fluco Coach Jennifer Payne noted that the Flucos are relatively new at field hockey and that her squad did not have a background in the sport comparable to that of Western Albemarle. She noted the play of sophomore Morgan Drumheller and junior Madeline Esch and of goalie Peterson. Team captains are senior Bailey Marshall, senior Abigail Ford, senior Rebekah Kraft and senior Andrea Chittenden.
Field hockey is a sport that is being taken up by more and more high schools every year here in Central Virginia. High schools in Northern Virginia have been playing field hockey for much longer. Although field hockey is played by men and women internationally, in Virginia it is only a girl’s game.
Field hockey is a skill sport played with sticks with a curved end. The stick is flat on one side and rounded on the other. A hard ball must be maneuvered down field with the stick and accurate passing, on the run, is required. Accordingly, competitors with even a year more experience are likely to be more skilled and more effective than their opponents.
The Fluco field hockey team played at Orange County on Sept. 21, and hosted Highland Springs High on Sept. 23. They hosted Louisa County on Sept.26 and will host E.C. Glass High on Sept. 28. Highland Springs and E.C. Glass are not usual opponents for the Flucos. The field hockey team then plays six games in October to round out the season. They start October with a trip to Monticello High on Oct. 3 and on Oct. 5 they host Charlottesville.
