By Darren Lum

Time ran out on the Red Hawks girls’ field hockey team’s season against the Hurricanes of Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School in their Kawartha High School League semi-final game last week, as a bid for a comeback win fell short to advance to the finals on Tuesday, Oct. 19 in Peterborough.

The team lost 2-1 in regulation and the Hurricanes advanced to play the Saints of St. Peter Catholic Secondary School in the Kawartha championship final for a berth to the all-provincials.

Hawks coach Steve Smith said the team was down a pair of goals by the half, which had left the team feeling deflated, but the Hawks used that break to come out revitalized with renewed hope.

“The girls were a little deflated but with a great pep talk at half they came out with new vim and dedication. They scored shortly into the third quarter on a short corner. The short corner went to the top of the circle and a shot from the top (by Bella Smolen) was tipped and went off their defence behind the goalie and into the net,” he wrote in a message. “With a goal you could see the girls confidence go through the roof. They kept the play in Holy Cross’ end for the remainder of the game.”
He adds the team excelled and performed really well in that game, as they did all season. The team’s defence endured five short corners taken by the Hurricanes in the first half, which pinned them in their own zone.

With coaches Courtney Cook and Ginny Marsden, Smith said they are proud of the team and are looking to the future.

“The coaches are really proud of the entire team and are looking forward to what the rookies will bring next year. A huge shout out to our veterans who carried the team for the season. As coaches we are saddened by a shortened season, but extremely glad that we were able to compete and coach these girls. They were so much fun to coach,” he wrote, referencing graduating students, Ava Smith, Brooke Stover, Ava Allaire, Cassidy McMullen, Bella Smolen, Ryan Rupnow, Macy Miscio, Crystal Petry, Sophie Longo and Emma Miller. 

Note: Short corners, or penalty corners are awarded to the offensive team when a defensive player commits a foul in the shooting circle, or if a defender sends the ball over the end line intentionally. The offensive team gains a momentary advantage on the play when they take possession and initiate the play by inbounding the ball while the four defenders and the goalie must start behind the backline and the rest of the defending team must start from behind the centre line.