Field Hockey Roundup: Chesapeake prevails on strokes

Chesapeake goalkeeper Autumn Reid practiced penalty strokes throughout the week leading up to the semifinal game against Perry Hall.

Her preparation paid off yesterday.

The junior was put into the pressure-cooker when second-seeded Chesapeake and the third-seeded Gators battled to a 1-1 tie after two overtime periods. Reid stopped three of the four penalty strokes she faced, while Ashley Reid, Laura Lyons and Lauren Jones made theirs to vault the Cougars to the Class 4A North Region finals against top-seeded Dulaney.

"I was a little nervous going into that because throughout this week, I wasn't too strong with my strokes," Autumn Reid said. "But I knew I had it. I knew I could do it."

Despite the jitters, Reid had the ultimate confidence from Cougars coach Melissa Page.

"She is my girl. She started the season so strong, then kind of dropped a little bit," Page said. "She lost a little confidence. But I told her it was her time to shine. I couldn't have asked anything more from her."

Chesapeake will play Dulaney tomorrow in the Class 4A North Region final.

Chesapeake found itself down early, as Perry Hall took the opening possession down the field, with Payton Liberto netting the Gators' goal 37 seconds into the game.

"I think we went in a little too confident. They caught us when we were back on our heels," Page said. "Good for them. They played up to our weakness at the time. That was definitely a mental lapse on our part."

The Cougars decided to put their game in gear during the second half and answered with the tying goal.

Off a penalty corner, Ashley Reid fed Kelsey O'Connor at the left corner of the goal. The freshman shot across the crease, just inside the far post past Gators goalkeeper Katie Cavanaugh to knot the score at 1.

"This team has done that all year long. We are a come-from-behind team," Page said. "For some reason, they are comfortable playing from behind. We allow teams to go right at us at the beginning, but we're comfortable going at it in the second half."

Both teams had chances to end the contest in the two overtime periods, but Reid and Cavanaugh both came up big to force penalty strokes. Chesapeake failed on two opportunities early in the first overtime, and Ashley Reid was stopped twice by Cavanaugh at the end.

Autumn Reid was then called upon early in the second overtime when Liberto broke in free on a breakaway. Reid made a diving save about seven yards in front of the goal to preserve the tie.

Ashley Reid followed on a 2-on-1 break, but Cavanaugh strayed far from her goal to kick away a pass.

"We had the opportunities," Page said. "They have no one to blame but themselves for how long this game went."

Perry Hall 1 0 0 0 - 1

Chesapeake (10-6) 0 1 0 0 - 1

Chesapeake wins on penalty strokes, 3-1.

GOALS: PH - Liberto; CH - O'Connor. ASSISTS: CH - Ash. Reid. SAVES: PH - Cavanaugh 18; CH - Aut. Reid 12. SHOTS: PH - 14; CH - 22. CORNERS: PH - 4; CH - 9.

SEVERNA PARK 6, ANNAPOLIS 0: Hannah Balleza led the Falcons with two goals and an assist as they defeated the Panthers in the Class 4A East Region semifinals. Marissa Balleza also added two goals, and Kierston Muhly and Jaclyn Anspach each scored once.

Severna Park moves on to the Class 4A East Region finals at South River.

Annapolis (10-5) 0 0 - 0

Severna Park (14-2) 4 2 - 6

GOALS: SP - H. Balleza 2, M. Balleza 2, Muhly, Ansbach. ASSISTS: SP - H. Balleza, Thomas, Miller. SAVES: ANN - Openshaw 6; SP - Dalisera 0, Dixon 1, Coletti 3. SHOTS: ANN - 2; SP - 15. CORNERS: ANN - 8; SP - 6.

DULANEY 9, MEADE 0: The top-seeded Lions shut out the Mustangs (2-11) in a Class 4A North Region semifinal. No other statistics were reported.

KENT ISLAND 3, QUEEN ANNE'S 0: The top-seeded Buccaneers survived their semifinal match and will play Easton in the Class 2A East Region final.