FIELD HOCKEY: Reilly, Groth Score 2 as Saline Downs Hartland, 7-0

Saline improved to 8-0-1 in Michigan High School Field Hockey Division 1 competition when the Hornets defeated Hartland, 7-0, at Hornet Stadium Wednesday.

Erin Reilly scored the games first two goals and Ali Groth also scored twice for Saline. Hannah Jarvie, Kayla Wilson and Bridget Skelly also scored. Julia Bentley and Eva Doorlag weren’t busy in goal, but each made a stop or two to preserve the shutout.

The Hornets dominated the game from start to finish – with only a few short lulls.

“Hartland is always a tough team. Last year our game down to the penalty corner after the buzzer when Emi Maloney scored for us to win it,” coach Erica Reilly said. “So this is an important win.”

The Hornets scored in the game’s opening minutes. Erin Reilly to the penalty corner and scored with a well-hit ball.

Erin Reilly with goal #2. 2-0 Saline. pic.twitter.com/bjh8FtJL3u

— TheSalinePost (@TheSalinePost) September 19, 2018

A few minutes later she took a pass from Maya Prasad and scored again, giving Saline an early 2-0 advantage.

The Hornets fell into a lull about two thirds of the way through the half. Saline survived three penalty corners without giving up a goal, thanks to Bentley, and her defense of Caroline Krause, Emi Maloney and Shae Murphy. Still, coach Reilly wasn’t happy. So she called a time out.

“I basically told the girls it was time to get their stuff together and do a better job making quick, simple passes,” Reilly said.

The Hornets responded with a great goal. When play resumed, Murphy dropped a pass back to Maloney, who swept the ball across to  Reilly. She banged a long pass up the field to Jarvie, who sprinted to toward the net and centered across to Groth, who made no mistake. Saline led 3-0.

The goal was a back-breaker for the Eagles.

Saline took the 3-0 lead into half time.

Hannah Jarvie on the stroke. 4-0. pic.twitter.com/JREb7d49dC

— TheSalinePost (@TheSalinePost) September 19, 2018

Jarvie opened scoring in the second half with her second penalty strike goal in as many weeks, beating the Hartland goalie with a high shot to the goalie’s right. A few minutes later, after a penalty corner, Saline scored again. Devin Reilly attacked from the side and the rebound of her shot got behind the goalie. Wilson chipped it in past the falling defenders. Saline made it 6-0 with Skelly lofted a high shot up and over the goalie, who jumped and got a piece of it, but couldn’t corral her shot. Groth scored her second goal of the game with a rip from 15 yards on another penalty corner.

Saline visits Ann Arbor Huron at 4:15 Thursday in one of the Hornets’ biggest tests of the season.

Saline junior Erin Reilly, who scored 2 goals, on the importance of starting fast, turning up the heat after a timeout, and this year's Field Hockey team. pic.twitter.com/1usfX3aV3O

— TheSalinePost (@TheSalinePost) September 20, 2018

The Saline Post 3 Stars

1) Erin Reilly - Super aggressive play at midfield gave Hartland nowhere to go most of the game. Reilly's two early goals set the tone for the Hornets.

2) Ali Groth - The junior forward  is quickly becoming one of the Hornets' go-to girls for offense.

3) Hannah Jarvie - Scored a great goal, and had the prettiest assist of the day on Groth's first goal.

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