9-29-2015 3:23am

Field Hockey: Tzavaras Goal Stands as Winner as Saline Blanks Liggett

It wasn’t pretty, but it was a win against one of the toughest teams in Michigan Division 2 Field Hockey.

Sophie Tzavaras scored with 7:19 to play in the second half to lift Saline to a 1-0 win over the University Liggett Knights.

Saline improved to 10-0-1. Kennedy Boyer posted the shutout in goal. Saline has given up one goal in 11 games. The Hornets also remained unbeaten and atop the standings in Division 2.

Coach Erica Reilly said her team didn’t play its best game, but she’ll take the win.

“That was an ugly win. Our two powerhouses that rely on in the middle (Abby Morton and Shannon Reilly) were having a tough game today and not finding each other. They pulled it together in the end. They finally rocked it with about 10 minutes to play in the game,” Reilly said.

The two teams played a clashing style of game, with Saline playing a patient, possession game and Liggett looking for long-bomb passes to spring speedy wingers.

In the end, Saline won on a long shot deflected in by a junior who has scored a lot of goals in her career.

After a foul in the Knight’s end, Abby Morton passed to Shannon Reilly, who sent it back to Morton while Tzavaras was camped out front of the goal.

“Abby took a hit and it went in the air. I put my stick out and it bounced off my stick and into the corner of the net,” said Tzavaras, who had every intention of deflecting the ball past the Knights’ goalie. “In practice if we get crazy shots I have to be ready to tip, so I try to get my stick on the ball.”

Saline withstood two penalty corners in the final minute to hold on for a victory that was special to the Lady Hornets.

“We lost to Liggett last year and it was one of our only losses, so winning this game today means a lot,” Tzavaras said. “We’re at the top of our division and we want to stay there.”

The game did feature plenty of up and down play, but both defenses managed to limit dangerous scoring chances.

Liggett put the first shot on goal less than 90 seconds into the game. Saline goalie Kennedy Boyer kicked the rebound away from danger.

Saline did seem to have a territorial edge in the first half. The Hornets spent more time with possession while the Knights seemed content to spring their wingers with long passes, hoping to beat the Saline defense one-on-one. Fortunately for Saline, the defense was up to the task.

At the other end, Saline’s possession didn’t generate many shots on goal. The Hornets did manage to draw four penalty corners in the first half, but they couldn’t score. Abby Morton banged one shot off the side of the cage in what was Saline’s most dangerous opportunity of the half.

The Hornets came out flying in the second half. Sierra Hazard had two great shots from the side of the net about 3:20 into the half. The first shot was stopped and the second shot went wide. About a minute later, Shannon Reilly sent a 20-foot shot about a foot wide while on a rush. Saline controlled the pace of the play for the first eight minutes of the half before the Knights started generating an attack. The Knights had two corners about 9 minutes into the half. On the second corner, Boyer made a good stop. The rebound was sent by an open net but the Knights couldn’t get their stick on it.

In the final 15 minutes, the Hornets seemed to find their game again. With 12:40 to play, Abby Morton broke up a play, worked a give and go with Shannon Reilly and turned the ball up field. She passed to Hazard, who sprinted past the defender and shot the ball off the side of the goal.

“Early in the game, our key players just weren’t firing on all cylinders,” coach Reilly said. “But they started to get it going late.”

As Saline moved the ball more confidently, the forwards also did a better job crashing the net, which resulted in Saline’s most dangerous chances and Tzavaras goal. Saline kept its foot on the gas until the final minute when the Knights turned the play around and drew two penalty corners. The first corner resulted in good chance that was turned aside by the defense. Saline’s defense broke up the second chance before the Knights could set up.

Saline hosts Grand Rapid Forest Hills Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. in a game that could decide first place in the division.

Three Stars

Sophie Tzavaras - Always around the net and always getting her stick on the ball. Tzavaras goes to the hard places on the field to make things happen. Her goal was the game's only goal.
Kennedy Boyer - Didn't face many shots, but in game that's 0-0 until the final seven minutes, all it takes is one to spoil the fun. Give some credit where it's due. Boyer's aggressive kick saves sometimes go 20-25 yards. That reduces the amount of second and third attempts for the opposition.
Abby Morton - Coach Reilly said Morton and Shannon Reilly weren't at their best. But Morton and Reilly still drive the bus. Reilly and Morton broke up several plays in their own end and turned the ball up field for the attack, over and over again. Morton also managed to set up the goal by Tzavaras.