The Red Hawks field hockey team's player Claire Karaguesian runs around coach Steve Smith in pre-season practice last week at the Haliburton Highlands Secondary School. With lower numbers there will be one varsity team representing the Hawks in the Kawartha High School Field Hockey League this season./DARREN LUM Staff By Darren Lum
When a team dominates for as many years as the Red Hawks varsity field hockey team it’s easy to take wins for granted.
However the Hawks are looking younger than in other years and in sport there are no guarantees.
A true test to determine if this team will be championship worthy will have to wait after easily beating the visiting St. Peter’s Catholic Secondary School Saints 3-0 in their season and home opener this past Friday in Haliburton.
There wasn’t much doubt throughout the game who was going to win.
The Hawks pressured won virtually every loose ball and were awarded a few baker dozens of short-corners for double-digit scoring chances.
Despite the chances the Red Hawks left all their scoring to the second half when veteran forward Sydney Feir scored the game’s first after an initial shot was made by teammate Abby Gordon.
It was all they needed.
Saints’ time of ball possession and time in the attacking zone was easily counted on a pair of hands compared to the Hawks’ relentless and sustained attack.
As evidence of the team’s dominance was how Hawks fourth-year goalie Sydney Cameron didn’t face a single shot or even the threat of one in her shutout as the home side didn’t surrender a short-corner all game.
New Hawks coach Jessica Lloyd loved what she saw in her team.
After the lopsided win Lloyd wants her team to stick to the basics.
She wants her team “to persevere and keep those sticks down to the ground and push through.”
Veteran forward Shae MacNaull who was among several scoring threats for the Hawks scored the second goal and insurance marker with a howitzer of shot 10 yards out (hitting the ball so hard she spun and fell down) in front of the Saints keeper who barely flinched seeing the blur go by her.
First-year forward Mackenzie Henderson scored the third and final goal her first.
Lloyd liked the way the team is working together fostering growth among the rookies.
“How they work together and let some of our new players play” she said. “We had a few new players that did really well today. They gave them a chance. Our experienced players didn’t dominate over them and they really played well altogether.”
