(Courtesy: hnrmedia_)
On Tuesday, October 20, Academy met Granville on Carlin Fields in their first playoff game of postseason. The Vikes had previously played the Blue Aces winning big 5-0, but despite the earlier win, they knew the gravity of playoffs can change a team’s performance.
The field hockey team had ended their regular season at 14-2-1, positioning themselves highly in the tournament bracket. Looking to extend their win streak to 9 in a row, the Vikes understood these upcoming games would be crucial for a championship appearance, and they didn’t allow Granville to slow them down.
The game began with Academy possession and an intense offensive scheme. It didn’t take long for senior Sophia S. to find captain Katie N. to put the Vikes on the scoreboard. Settling into defense and sticking to their fundamentals, Abby G. created multiple key takeaways to carry the momentum. Even when Granville cut up the field, goalie Lila P. was there to deny any attempts at evening the score.
Back on the offense, freshman Josie M. found 2 goals in fast breaks, taking the lead to 3-0. With only several minutes until halftime, the Vikes controlled possession until senior Ashley H. connected with Sydney J., leaving the score at 4-0 in the first half.
During halftime, Lila insisted that in order to maintain their current momentum, it would be “imperative to stay sound on defense and control the ball offensively, limiting turnovers.” The Vikes delivered on their halftime corrections, almost eliminating turnovers altogether.
It wasn’t late into the second half when Sophia S. found senior Charlotte K. for her first varsity goal, leaving the score at 5-0. Confident with their lead, the offense continued to dominate while rotating players around the field to build experience within the playoff environment. As the clock wound down, Anna H. scored the last goal of the game, defeating the Blue Aces 6-0.
The Vikes later took on Bishop Watterson in the district finals on Saturday, October 31, on Liberty’s field for the third round of the playoffs.
The match began slowly as both teams attempted to control possession offensively. Watterson took an early charge, firing multiple shots on goal in return for numerous saves by senior goalie Lila. P. On offense, Academy struggled to find a spark and found difficulty scoring. Both teams debriefed at halftime, with Academy emphasizing a stronger defensive presence and absolute control offensively. Returning to the field at 0-0, both teams knew the next 30 minutes would decide their season. The Eagles pushed heavily to find the scoreboard, but the Viking defense denied 14 shots-on-goal, including one from forward defender Ashley H. It wasn’t until the final minutes that Academy capitalized on a penalty corner and senior captain Katie N. knocked one in.
With the Vikings now up 1-0, the Eagles stressed the defense, shooting from all over the field. As the game concluded, the Vikings would emerge regional champions. Katie would later credit the defense for the huge win, admiring how they “stayed strong and performed well under pressure.”
Academy will now meet Shaker Heights on Thursday, November 5, as they advance into the state semifinal for their 4th playoff game.
