NSA achieves measurable progress in win
Published 11:02 pm Thursday, September 11, 2014
Sometimes numbers can be great allies.
The Nansemond-Suffolk Academy field hockey team rejoiced on Thursday in having clinched its fifth win of the season, already surpassing last year’s win total.
“It feels amazing,” said NSA senior midfielder Sarah Higinbotham, later adding, “It’s only going to get better from here.”
Lady Saints coach Ashley Skinner echoed Higinbotham’s thoughts and said motivation to learn and develop is higher than ever among her players, and she has confidence they will improve with each remaining game this season.
Nansemond-Suffolk Academy senior midfielder Jessie Lerner works against visiting Williamsburg Christian Academy’s defense on Thursday. She scored three times in NSA’s 8-0 win.
Nansemond-Suffolk achieved the fifth win in its second meeting this season with Williamsburg Christian Academy. The Lady Saints were the host this time, but the score was the same as when they weren’t — 8-0.
This did not mean that NSA did not improve from the first meeting, however.
“I think we did a lot better in transition,” Higinbotham said. “But we put the passes together just as well as we did last time.”
Senior midfielder Jessie Lerner was once again a star scorer for Nansemond-Suffolk, recording a hat trick, but was also one of five scorers.
“We spread the goals out throughout the team,” Skinner said. “I think it shows how dynamic our offense can be.”
Freshman forward Morgan Morrell started off the scoring with an assist from Lerner and later scored the final goal of the game off an assist from Higinbotham.
The final goal came with eight seconds left, and Skinner said she was pleased to see her team playing to the very end.
Also contributing to a 5-0 halftime lead were junior midfielder Emily Mason, Higinbotham off an assist from sophomore midfielder Paige Christiansen and Lerner, with two of her goals.
Christiansen scored in the second half, assisted by freshman forward Tori Psimas.
Skinner praised Lerner for her offense and highlighted Morrell, as well.
“She just created a lot of space,” the coach said of Morrell.
Freshman defender Madi Wilson drew praise from Skinner for her speed and composure, helping to create turnovers and get the NSA offense started.
“She creates a lot from the backfield,” Skinner said.
Nansemond-Suffolk (5-1-1) hosts Walsingham Academy on Tuesday.
