NSA turns around first half
Published 10:46 pm Tuesday, September 16, 2008
NORFOLK – In a tale of two halves on Tuesday, Norfolk Collegiate took advantage with two goals in its half, the first half, and visiting Nansemond-Suffolk couldn’t do the same in the second half.
The Lady Oaks scored twice in the last four minutes of the first half and despite a 12-5 shooting margin for the Lady Saints in the second 30 minutes, the lead stood up for a 2-0 win in the non-Tidewater Conference field hockey game.
For much of the first half, Norfolk Collegiate had the Lady Saints pinned deep in their own half with all-hands-on-deck for defense.
Within the opening two minutes, a flurry of action in the NSA arc forced goalkeeper Mary Pedigo into four scrambling saves in quick succession.
NSA’s defense was good enough to keep the match tied until 4:07 before the half when Norfolk Collegiate broke the ice. At that point, NC’s goal gave the Lady Oaks an 11-2 shot advantage. In the final minute of the half, Norfolk Collegiate converted on a penalty corner to take a 2-0 lead. Seven saves by Pedigo kept NSA in the match.
The way NSA turned the match around after halftime, it seemed the Lady Saints would get completely back into the match. Through the first 25 minutes of the half, NSA piled up a 7-0 penalty corner advantage, but couldn’t find the back of the cage.
Allie Thorndike, Ashmore Standing and Katharina Kleis led the attacks on the Lady Oak arc as NSA put seven shots on goal after getting just two in the first half, and in the early minutes of the first half at that.
The Lady Oaks closed the last few minutes out by earning two penalty corners and keeping most of NSA’s possession limited to midfield. The Lady Saints needed just one save by Pedigo in the second half.
Nansemond-Suffolk (1-3) hosts Bishop Sullivan Catholic in a non-Tidewater Conference match on Friday at 4 p.m. The Saints vs. Crusaders game is the first of six straight home matches for NSA.