Eagles get tied up Eagles get tied up (September 24, 2004)

Field hockey team plays hard to a 1-1 draw

By Colleen Corcoran

A rough, physical field hockey game between Los Altos and Leland ended in a 1-1 tie on Sept. 17.

"It was a dangerous game," said Los Altos field hockey coach Gerri Baldwin. "A lot of calls were not made.

"The referees allowed it to become very physical, and there isn't any team that should be put in that kind of situation. I try to get my team to pay a fair, sportsmanlike game, and when that gets taken away from them, it's difficult for them to play their game."

Constant, unchecked fouls interrupted the momentum needed to establish and sustain a lead.

During a scoreless first half, Los Altos put pressure on Leland's goal to no avail. With four minutes left, Brynn Elms shot twice and missed both times. Then Sarah Lytle battled for possession, drove to the goal and shot wide. Leland's goalie was lured out into the shooting circle. But this time, Caitlin Rhodes shot and missed.

Frustration built along the sidelines.

"We're missing a lot of opportunities because we're not going to the ball," Baldwin told to the team at halftime. "We need to spread out. We've got to play hard, and we've got to play smart."

During the first minute of the second half, Los Altos did just that. Sophomore Sarah Nolet picked up a pass from Rhodes and broke away. Attacking an open field, Nolet drove the ball and scored.

"At our talk at halftime, we really refocused and brought ourselves together," Nolet said. "I got a really nice [pass] from Caitlin, and my strategy was just to use my speed. I used it and got through."

Twenty minutes later, Leland's Ashley Bandanza responded. She penetrated a crowded Eagle goal to score and tie the game 1-1.

For the remaining ten minutes of the second half, the number of uncalled fouls rose. The two teams slashed at each others' feet. Sticks were thrown. Coaches yelled. And the second half ended.

During the seven-minute overtime, Los Altos dominated but never scored. In what was perhaps the decisive misplay of the game, a shot by Nolet bounced off the Leland goalpost.

With no scoring in overtime, the game concluded with a tie score.

"In the overtime and in the second half, we were clearly the better team," said Los Altos' Daphne Owen. "But the score doesn't always reflect how it really is. It was very physical. I'm not used to getting beat up in a game, and we definitely got pushed around."

"It's luck too," assistant coach Kathy Murphy added. "We're a well-conditioned team, and I think that showed in the overtime. We have this first league match under our belts now. We know what to expect. As long as we stay together and work together, I think we're going to have a good season."

After hosting the Los Altos Invitational on Sept. 25, the Eagles will face Cupertino at home on Sept. 29.

E-mail Colleen Corcoran at sports@mv-voice.com

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