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STAB field hockey rolls in postseason opener against Saint Gertrude

Photo by Bart Isley

The League of Independent Schools is home to three of the state’s top four VISAA Division I field hockey squads. 

 

Because of that, St. Anne’s-Belfield has gotten a chance to test itself against some of the state’s best this year and it showed Monday afternoon when the Saints, who are ranked No. 7 in the state, were seeded fourth in the LIS tournament. 

 

“Every time we’re in a league game we’re getting better as a team because we’re playing great competition,” said STAB coach Tara Harrington. “If you want to progress forward, you want to get better with your individual skill, you play the best. Being in such a strong league has helped us progressively get better.”

 

The Saints made short work of No. 5 seed Saint Gertrude, rolling 9-0 over the Gators in the LIS quarterfinal game. With the win, STAB advances to Tuesday’s semifinals where they’ll square off with top-seeded Trinity Episcopal, who happens to be the No. 2-ranked squad in the state. Collegiate and St. Catherine’s are ranked No. 3 and No. 4 in the state and No. 2 and 3 in the LIS.

 

The Saints got going with an Eden Block goal and then Abi Shim scored on a penalty shot. Hannah Miller tacked on another goal off one of Addi Foster’s two assists on the day to push the lead to 3-0. STAB did an excellent job of crashing toward the goal and creating scoring opportunities from the opening whistle. 

 

“We’ve been working really all year on every time we get the ball inside the attacking 25 and into the circle, our mentality is to get a shot or get a corner, to not let that ball go out of the circle,” Harrington said.

 

Mia Maurer scored a pair of goals for STAB on the day. Foster, Ellen Bartholomew, Lellie King and Willow Pemberton each scored once and Sarah Clark notched an assist. 

 

The Saints controlled possession throughout and the defense was rarely tested. 

 

STAB will play Trinity Episcopal on the road Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. 

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