WOODSTOWN – Lux Holmes couldn’t say she was surprised by the first question in her post-game interview. Woodstown had just scored a huge TCC Diamond Division win over archrival Schalick 3-1 with Holmes scoring the final goal, but instead of being asked about the impact of the game all the inquisitor wanted to know was the impact she made on the ball.
Just how hard do you hit that field hockey slap shot?
Holmes hit a rocket from the top of the circle with 10:33 left in the third quarter that would make NHLer Alex Ovechkin proud. The ball made a loud bang in the back of the cage after it whizzed past Schalick goalie Joysinna Johnson’s left shoulder in a blur.
“It’s probably like 90 percent of the things they say about my hockey; it’s always about my hits,” the junior back said. “It’s pretty much everything they bring up. They usually ask how I do it and if I can pass it down. Usually they wonder how I do it and I couldn’t tell you.”
They can’t argue with the results.
Counting the one she got Tuesday, Holmes has scored four goals in her high school career and they’ve all come off big hits, usually with somebody getting it to her off a corner. “I’ve never been one of the ones to tap it in,” she said.
She’s never had her shot measured and Wolverines coach Gloria Byard never thought to do it. “That’s a good idea, though; I think I should figure it out,” Holmes said. Suffice to say you don’t want to stand in front of it without goalie pads, and even then it doesn’t tickle.
“I’ve always said when we do corners I want the ball to go to Lux,” Byard said. “Lux, Brooke (Dillon) too at times, Shyann (Higinbotham), because they’re very difficult to see. With a hit like that, I have no guess as to miles per hour or anything, but it’s very strong, very powerful, very accurate.
“But they’ve gotta feel they can do it. It’s hard to convince kids today; you’re in control. At times they panic. I wouldn’t ask you take the shot or do what I’m asking you to do if I didn’t have trust in you or think you can do it. They want to do a lot of these fancy plays. Get a shot off. I’m old school – get the ball to the top of the circle, get a shot off, and I think that happened twice for us.”
Indeed. Two of the Wolverines’ goals came off corners.
There was a lot on the line in the game. Schalick was riding a seven-game winning streak after a balky start and one game behind the Wolverines in the loss column in the division standings. Woodstown was looking to snap a two-game losing streak and complete a season sweep of their rival, getting a bit of payback after the Cougars beat them twice the year before. The teams started the day 6-7 in the South Jersey Group 1 power points standings.
“We just wanted to pay them back from last year; they beat us twice last year,” Byard said. “I know they lost a few key players, so did we, but it was a little rivalry thing here and paybacks. I told them they beat us twice last year, so let’s return the favor.”
The Wolverines scored twice in the first quarter and never looked back. Talia Guardascione scored five minutes into the game and Joey Foote scored off a corner as time was expiring. Paisley Warner got Schalick within 2-1 when she made a spin move in front of an open net and scored 2:46 before halftime.
Salem Tech Field Hockey 7th Straight Win and 1st Tri-County Division Title
SALEM TECH 3, GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 1: The Chargers all but locked up their first TCC Classic Division title in their first year eligible. Their seventh straight win left them 6-0 in the division, two games ahead of each Pennsville and the Rams and they handed those teams both their division losses.
“I didn’t think it was going to be a long time (before they won a division title), but I didn’t think it was going to be as short as the time was,” junior forward Gina LaRosa said Monday. “I think we really came together as a team and made it happen.”
Getting out fast has been a key element for the Chargers (8-2) during their seven-game winning streak, but it was the Rams (2-4) who struck quickly in this one as Alana Bellan found the back of the goal 20 seconds into the game.
Abby Beals got the equalizer and Hayden Crispin made it 2-1 before the first quarter ended. Araya DiGregorio scored the final goal in the third quarter.
PENNSVILLE 3, SALEM 0: Laura Tamberella, Toni Tobin and Polina Wright all scored goals as the Eagles (3-7) snapped a six-game losing streak. Kendall Hoyt had two assists.