Senior Carolyn Bowman dribbles the ball down the field. (Inji Kang/Media editor)

As Academy’s field hockey girls entered into this week, they knew it would be a challenge. Despite having a slower week with only one match, the Vikings faced longtime rival Thomas Worthington. Thomas, a three-time consecutive state champion team, has knocked Academy out of the post-season tournament for two straight years.

The Vikes took on the Cardinals on Wednesday, September 26. The start of the game had a lot of back and forth play, with no one team dominating offensively. Assisted by Regan Cornelius’21, Carolyn Bowman’19 put in the first shot of after 10 minutes into the game, sending the crowd into a frenzy with the score 1-0. Academy used this momentum to strike on its opponent, but a failed corner sent the team into a defensive mode. Following a close save by goalie Alex Phelps’20, senior Jenny L’Hommedieu used leverage from senior Avie Smith’s corner to raise the score to 2-0 just before the half.

CA took the start of the second half to defend its impressive lead over Thomas, blocking a close shot on goal before turning around to retaliate. Only a minute in to the half, sophomore Charlotte Adams snuck one past Thomas’s goalie, setting the score at 3-0. Academy used most of the second half to protect its lead with a strong defense. Mercedes Crestanello’19 found a chance to score on the Cardinals with seven minutes left in the game. The Vikings were elated as the clock ran down, and it looked like there was no way Thomas could come back. Fans rushed the field as the timer hit zero, cementing a 4-0 victory against Thomas for the Vikes.

The Vikings hope to use this impetus this week when they host Bishop Watterson at home on Tuesday, October 2, before travelling to Bexley on Thursday, October 4.