Tough Day for Northern Region Field Hockey in State Quarters

By Jimmy Thomas
DigitalSports.com

Both Oakton and W.T. Woodson were unable to advance in the Virginia AAA state field hockey tournament that began Thursday at the U.S. Field Hockey National Training Center in Virginia Beach.

Oakton (15-7) had the unfortunate task of playing traditional powerhouse and defending state champion Frank W. Cox (21-2) which also holds a Virginia record 14 state championships.

“From Cox it was what I expected,” Cougars’ head coach Lizzie McManus said. “I expected them to be the passing team that they were. I knew going into this that it would be difficult, but not impossible. The way we started out I thought we could keep it close. Cox just turned it on, they have experience on this turf and they are a great passing team.”

Oakton, the Northern Region runner-up lost 3-0 in their first state appearance after completing an unlikely run beating Lake Braddock and top-seeded Langley in the Northern Region tournament.

W.T. Woodson (19-5) faced off against the Central Region runner-up Princess Anne, but fared no better in a 2-1 loss.

The Cavaliers took the lead just over three minutes into the second half with a goal by captain Meg Thaxton assisted by Shelly Montgomery. But Woodson’s goal seemed only to motivate its opponents. Princess Anne junior forward Torri Jackson scored unassisted four minutes later to knot the game at 1 and with 8:33 left in regulation forward Maartje Van Riswik scored the game-winner to advance her team to the semifinal round.

Matching up against the traditionally strong Eastern Region teams in this year’s state tournament was not the only obstacle that Oakton and Woodson faced. At the U.S. Field Hockey National Training Center where all of the tournament games are held, the fields are made of Astroturf, a quick surface that is unlike any field in the Northern or Central Regions. All of the fields in Northern Virginia and the Richmond-area are natural grass or field turf, which not only slows the game down but also changes the way the game is played.

“The game should be played on this surface,” McManus said of the Astroturf. “Spectators enjoy it more, its faster and you use the passing game more. The longer field turf that the high schools are getting now is not good for field hockey. Its long and its sticky. This is the way it should be.”

** Check the video player on the home page, or click on the “Field Hockey” sports central tab at the top of the home page to see highlights from Thursday’s game between W.T. Woodson and Princess Anne.