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Sports

Field Hockey: Phantoms Ambushed by Blazers

Daniel Boone defeated Phoenixville 3-1 in PIAA Field Hockey.

BIRDSBORO-Phantoms' junior Megan Loughery continued her torrid early season scoring tear posting a goal 14 minutes into the first half, but it was not enough to overcome a Daniel Boone team that came out guns-a-blazing as Phoenixville suffered its first setback of the young season with a 3-1 loss to the Blazers.

As the previously unbeaten Phantoms (7-1 overall, 4-0 league) took to the turf of the recently refurbished $3 million project know as the Blazers Stadium, they were greeted by a PIAA-class AAAA Daniel Boone that hadn’t gotten the memo that this was just a non-league September match up.

“They came out on fire tonight, and we didn’t,” said Phantoms coach John Tornetta. “They played with a sense of urgency and we didn’t seem like we were ready to play tonight. That’s my job as coach. I have to have them better prepared to play a game like this. It won’t happen again, that’s for sure.” 

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The Blazers struck first as Hayleigh Aft was able to redirect a shot off the stick of Briana Myers past Sarah Boone, who despite the loss was sensational in net as she turned aside 20 shots.

The Phantoms wasted no time responding as Loughery promptly deposited the ball into the Blazers net less than 20 seconds later, knotting the game at one apiece.

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“This was a tough game for us tonight. They were a lot more physical than the teams we have played so far this season,” said Loughery. “This is a great test for us to get ready for the larger schools we will be playing in our league. We need to focus on finishing the play and keeping our heads up to look for the person breaking to the net. We were caught with our heads down a few times tonight.”

“Physical” was an understatement: in a game in which the intensity and scrappiness more resembled a playoff game than a non-league tilt, the bumping and banging on both sides got so bad at one point midway through the first half that official Cindy Matlack called time out and issued an all-encompassing green card to both squads.

“That’s enough,” said Matlack to both benches after stopping play. “This is both teams' only warning. The next person who shoves or pushes off will be yellow carded.”

Melissa Troyan gave the Blazers a 2-1 lead with 12:13 left in the first half, which is where the score stayed until Daniel Boone tapped in a corner with less than a minute left in the game, following a yellow card being issued to Tornetta as he was asking for clarification on a call.

Phoenixville, after seeing Daniel Boone being awarded an eight-to-one advantage in penalty corner chances in the first half, owned play the entire second half as the Phantoms recorded 15 shots and controlled the ball in the Daniel Boone zone for most of the frame.

Phoenixville had four corner chances in the second half, but could not capitalize as the Blazers bent but did not break around goalkeeper Sam Rumler.

“It was a little frustrating in the second half,” added Loughery. “Sarah [Boone] played great in net as she has all year. We just couldn’t get the clean shot when we had our chances to get it tied up for her. Their last goal was just one of those things with less than a minute left. We have built such great team chemistry and all support each other so well. We will learn from this game and be ready next time we are in the same situation.” 

  Scoring

First half

25:22   DB             Aft from Meyers

25:16   PX            Loughery unassisted

12:13   DB            Troyan from Aft

Second half

1:08     DB            Gokey from Myers

Goaltender saves   Boone (PX) 13 saves

                           Rumler (DB)  8 saves

Penalty corner attempts            PX 5  DB  11

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