Grassfield ousts Lady Warriors 1-0
Published 11:19 pm Wednesday, October 26, 2011
![NRFH_4997](https://www.suffolknewsherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2011/10/NRFH_4997.jpg)
Nansemond River’s Amber Daubenspeck tries to cut off a Grassfield player during Wednesday’s Southeastern District Tournament semifinal in Virginia Beach. No. 2 Grassfield beat the No. 3 Lady Warriors 1-0. Nansemond River’s season ends a win shy of the regional tournament and with an 11-6 record.
VIRGINIA BEACH — Nansemond River avenged one of its losses from its district season on Monday in the opening round of the Southeastern District Field Hockey Tournament.
No. 2-seeded Grassfield didn’t let No. 3 Nansemond River do the same, eliminating the Lady Warriors with a 1-0 win, on Wednesday in the semifinal round at the U.S. Field Hockey National Training Center.
![NRFH_5002](https://www.suffolknewsherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2011/10/NRFH_5002.jpg)
Nansemond River midfielder Shelbi Holloman drives a cross toward the Grassfield penalty arc in the second half of a Southeastern District Tournament semifinal match Wednesday afternoon in Virginia Beach. Grassfield beat Nansemond River 1-0. NR’s season ends a win shy of making the Eastern Region Tournament.
After a 4-1 Lady Grizzly win over the Lady Warriors all the way back in August, dedicated defense was the major Lady Warrior plan for the rematch.
The Lady Warriors succeeded in making everything difficult for Grassfield. The two teams combined for only six shots on goal through the 60 minutes.
NR goalkeeper Lindsey Hunter made her best stop of the first half stopping a Grassfield attack before it could wind up with a shot on goal.
Just shy of 10 minutes in, Grassfield broke out with quick passing through midfield for a 3-on-2 break in on the Lady Warrior arc, with Hunter as one of NR’s two.
Hunter sprinted off her goal line and her full-speed slide broke up a pass between two Lady Grizzly attackers, denying a sure tap-in goal had the pass reached its target.
The Lady Grizzlies got the one goal they needed with 27:07 remaining in the match.
Shelbi Holloman’s play as a wide midfielder turned into the best Lady Warrior chances for a tying goal in the closing minutes.
Holloman’s sprinting and dribbling, often getting past two or three Lady Grizzlies before sending a pass into the arc or having the ball tipped away, increased as the clock ticked down but didn’t pay off.
Nansemond River earned a penalty corner, its second of the match, as the clock ticked toward four minutes left. A whistle against the Lady Warriors ended the play a second before Jordan Morris sent a shot toward goal.
With the win and No. 1 Lakeland winning the second semifinal on Wednesday, Grassfield clinched a berth into the Eastern Region Tournament.
The Lady Warriors finish the season with an 11-6 overall record.