Eastern Tech outlasts Parkville

Eastern Tech High’s field hockey team spent most of the first half of its contest Wednesday chasing Parkville. The Mavericks were able to catch their collective breath and realized field hockey is more than a sprint.

Taking a page from the classic tale “The Tortoise and the Hare,” Eastern Tech controlled the pace in the second half and claimed a 2-0 decision over the Knights in a battle for first in the Baltimore County league’s Mallard Division.

Sarah Coughlin and Danielle Neumeister tallied second half goals for the Mavericks (7-1 overall, 7-0 Mallard), with assists from Marissa Swecker and Kelsy Kelso. Eastern Tech coach Diana Hegmann was pleased with her second half rebuttal.

“They were faster, they outran us and outdrove us,” said Hegmann. “What I try to encourage in my girls is skill. Skill can outpower sprint any day. They pulled it together in the second half, they started to use their skill and communication.”

“We definitely worked really hard today,” said Neumeister. “Our biggest thing is our spacing and talking. If we’re not spacing and talking, you’re going to running around the whole field.”

The Mavericks didn’t have to do too much running in the second half as they had possession on Parkville’s side most of the final 30 minutes. Eastern Tech got the lead for good as Coughlin, standing near the left corner, got her stick on a pass from Kelso with 15 minutes, 25 seconds remaining.

“They [Parkville] was a tough defense and played really well,” said Coughlin. “I guess I got a lucky shot, I just kept the stick on the ground like the coaches tell us to do.”

There was no luck on the Mavericks’ final score as Swecker out-stick worked a couple of Parkville defenders and sent a short pass to Neumeister. Neumeister quickly sent a shot from about seven yards that landed in the right corner with 3:45 left in regulation.

“The best thing is take a shot right away and sometimes you get lucky and no one is in your way,” said Neumeister.

Eastern Tech defense with Reinna Elswick, Rhianna Sneeringer and Leslie Perzan kept the Knights’ attack near existent until late in regulation when Parkville had three consecutive corners. Amanda Carmen only needed two saves for the shutout.

“I started pulling them back further and we hung a little lower because their [Parkville] was going way past us,” said Hegmann. “Reinna took control of the ball and never sent it back up the middle. Once we figured out the support that made the whole difference.”

“I thought we had a lot of opportunities in the first half and we just blew it,” said Parkville coach John Cooper. “I thought in the first 13 minutes, we had four great opportunities and did not capitalize.

The second was a totally different story; Eastern Tech just outhustled us and outplayed us. Our girls got tired.”

Parkville next takes on Dundalk Friday, while Eastern Tech comes right back Thursday with league match against Carver A&T. 

“I would like to see us go to states,” said Neumeister. “Most of us have been together three years and know each other pretty well. We’re basically working to bring it all together and take it to the next level.”

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