Cyclones advance with victory

FREDERICKSBURG — The Eastern View defense remained steadfast against an onslaught of offense from Courtland to propel the Cyclones into the Region II tournament for the second straight year.

Since a game cannot end on a penalty corner, Courtland had one last chance to force overtime with no time left on the clock. Senior captain Kelsey Larson ended the threat by dribbling the ball out of the circle to send the Cyclones into the next round.

“(The Cougars) were intense,” Cyclones coach Peggy Allen said. “I mean you were just sitting there going ‘Oh please, oh please just get it out.”

The defense fought off multiple Cougar corners to preserve the win, including three straight with five minutes to play.

“They were definitely trying to get that ball in,” Eastern View senior Morgan Martin said. “They were hitting and hitting and hitting and we just kept stopping and stopping and stopping.”

The Cyclones held on while taking Courtland’s best shot.

“I think that’s really the best showing of offensive pressure we’ve had all season,” Courtland coach Amy Taft said. “It’s what we’ve been waiting for. It just seems like we haven’t had much luck getting the balls to go our way so it’s just unfortunate we couldn’t get them in the cage.”

The Cougars kept the pressure on the Cyclones, outshooting them 28-16. Sophomore Elizabeth Fox had 17 saves for Eastern View.

“When (Fox) is on she plays tough,” Allen said. “I think she is one of the best goalies in this district. She’s good and she’s a tenth grader, and that makes you smile.”

It took some time for the Cyclones to get comfortable under the lights at Maury Stadium, which also hosts James Monroe football games.

“The first half we were a little rough,” Senior Jackie Bedsaul said. I’m not trying to make excuses but the field was very horrible. I would slide all the time, I fell a couple times, it was very bad.”

Courtland (9-9) was the first to get on the board when Amber Markey lifted the ball over the head of Fox with 26:04 left in the first.

A blast to the back of the cage by Taryn Bierhuizen tied the game, and Bedsaul weaved through the Cougar defense to score and take a 2-1 lead into halftime.

With 20 minutes remaining in the game, Susie McCauley broke from the pack and found her sister Brittany for the Cyclones third goal. Bedsaul provided the final goal of the night off the Brittany McCauley assist, and then the defense did the rest.

“I’ve said all year that our defense would be what carries us because they are tough,” Allen said.

Eastern View (13-5) makes the journey to Yorktown to face Bay Rivers District champion Tabb (18-0) Monday at 6 p.m.

“We can’t go in there all scared because then we’ll play like were scared and then we’ll lose,” Bedsaul said. “We need to go in there like we know how to play field hockey and do our best.”