Field hockey: Tam claims first MCAL crown in shootout win over Redwood

Sierra Duncan knew the names of the girls she was about to face and what they had accomplished as she prepared for a showdown with the MCAL field hockey crown at stake, and a place in history hanging in the balance.

“I’ve heard about each of those girls for so long and I know how good they all are,” said Tam’s sophomore goalkeeper, who stopped four of five attempts in a shootout Friday evening to clinch the first field hockey championship in school history.

The game remained scoreless after 60 minutes of regulation play and two 10-minute overtime periods, sending the contest to a best-of-five shootout.

“I’ve never done a 1-v-1 before in my life,” Duncan said. “I didn’t know if I was going to make it, but I was ready for anything. It helped that I knew the names of each of the girls in the 1-v-1. I’ve heard their names since before I was a freshman. I’ve heard how good they are, what they can do with the ball, whether they go high with the shot or take it wide.”

Neither of the first two shooters on either side could score, but Tam sophomore Josie Stout got past Redwood netminder Meredith Levine for the advantage.

Duncan came out to challenge Redwood’s next shooter, Moni Hewlette, who doggedly attacked the ball and forced it into the cage past Duncan, who was on the ground,

Next up, Tam senior Veronica Ray took the ball right to Levine, and spun her around to get the ball past her for a clear shot at the cage for the winning goal.

Redwood’s next shooter lofted the ball high over the cage, and then Nina Baker took her shot with the game on the line. She was stopped momentarily by Duncan, who was determined not to let this game slip away. Baker’s shot then rolled wide to the right side of the cage and as it passed the end line, Duncan and her Hawks teammates swarmed each other in front of the net.

“I knew our goalkeeper (Duncan) was the best, so I knew we had a chance to win this game,” Ray said.

No. 2 seed Tam defeated Redwood twice this season, a historic first for the Hawks, but the top-seeded Giants did not let those losses weigh on them as they entered Friday’s game as the defending champions. Redwood was ready for business, and relentlessly pursued the ball the entire game.

The Giants had the field sense to know where the ball was going and to get a stick on it quickly, frustrating the Hawks’ passing game and shutting down Tam’s offense.

Redwood outshot Tam 11-2 through regulation, with Hewlette, Lucy Jeffers, Ellie Washing, Kailtin Stewart and Claire Johnson pressing the attack.

“There was a lot of emotion, a lot of nerves,” Jeffers said. “But we were in control the entire game.”

Tam’s backline with ballhawking captain Quinlin Dayton and Lauren Townsend tried to make it tough on the Giants, but Redwood kept the ball in the attacking zone most of the game. The Giants just couldn’t get a clear shot past Duncan, who played an aggressive, attacking style.

The Giants were on a fast break as the third quarter ended, then went right back to work with a heightened sense of urgency for the final 15 minutes. The Giants had a couple of scoring opportunities late, but couldn’t get a clean stick on the ball before regulation play expired.

Playing seven-a-side, the field opened up for both teams in overtime. Hewlette and Jeffers had a clean shot in front of the net, but couldn’t sneak the ball past Duncan, who came out to challenge for the ball.

Redwood continued to attack, but Duncan’s kick save against the Giants’ Lucy Miller sent the game to a second overtime. Nina Baker had one of the game’s best chances for a goal as she beat the Tam defense, but Duncan got a pad on the ball and corralled it between her legs midway through the second overtime.

Jeffers had one last chance to seal the win for Redwood with 25 seconds left as she took the ball to the right side. She caught Duncan sprawled on the ground to try to push the play out of position. Jeffers tried to lift the shot over Duncan, but couldn’t find the angle.

“Despite the loss, we’re a team that deserved to win,” said Jeffers, who is heading for Cornell to play lacrosse. “But Tam deserves the win, too. They played an awesome game.”