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This article will appear with additional exclusive photos in the November 8 print issue of the Pasadena Voice.
The Chesapeake field hockey team had to grind out victories over Mount Hebron in each of the last two seasons in order to claim the 3A East region title.
This year, the Cougars flat-out dominated the matchup.
On November 1, a hat trick by Logan Beal, three assists and a goal by Rachel Fleig and a suffocating team defensive performance powered the Cougars to a 4-0 victory over the visiting Vikings and the program’s third-straight 3A East region championship.
“Having played them for the third year in a row, and the last two years having to sweat it out, this was pretty exciting,” said head coach Joan Johnson, whose Cougars defeated Mount Hebron 2-1 in overtime in last year’s region final en route to winning the state championship and 2-1 in the 2015 region final.
The Cougars’ superior fitness and crisp execution were on display in the overpowering victory, which improved Chesapeake to 13-4 overall on the season. Mount Hebron fended off relentless pressure from Chesapeake throughout almost the entire first half before Beal opened up the scoring. Off a corner insert, the senior center back received a pass from Fleig, took a dribble around a defender and drove a low shot into the boards for a 1-0 lead just before halftime.
PHOTO GALLERY: Chesapeake field hockey vs. Mount Hebron, 3A East region final, 11.1.17
Beal doubled the lead shortly after halftime on another corner. The initial insert was deflected out past the circle, but the Cougars recycled the ball back in, with Fleig passing across to Beal, who one-timed a rocket into the goal for a 2-0 lead.
Beal, who has six goals in two playoff wins, said the offense is running smoothly.
“We’ve been playing together for a long time, so us communicating, it works really well, talking to each other on the corners and telling each other what we have so we know what to take, and that way we get the open shots. We’re really good at working it up the sideline, then crossing it over and getting those corners,” said Beal, whose Cougars held a 14-6 corner advantage and outshot Mount Hebron 16-1.
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Fleig made it 3-0 when she redirected Shelby Bennoit’s shot into the net, and Fleig found Beal one more time before game’s end for a 4-0 lead.
The defense was likewise stout, saving work for goalkeeper Eve Vickery, who wasn’t called into action for any saves, anchoring a clean shutout for the Cougars.
Said Beal, “Defensively, again, the communication. One of us will push up and mark the ball and the other will drop back to mark space in case they lose it, so we just communicate who to push up and who to drop, telling each other to apply pressure.”
The Cougars face James H. Blake High School at 5 p.m. Monday in the 3A state semifinals at Paint Branch High School. Johnson said last year’s state-title team set the bar the Cougars are trying to reach once again.
“They really brought it tonight, so I was very pleased,” said Johnson. “Once you go to the state championship, you can’t be happy with anything else, so that’s what we’re working for.”
Beal said the team is remaining focused while enjoying the region victory.
“We really just need to keep our heads and stay composed, make sure we still go out and play strong and don’t get too caught up,” she said. “We have had a really exciting season, and we don’t want to ruin it by getting too above ourselves.”
PHOTO GALLERY: Chesapeake field hockey vs. Mount Hebron, 3A East region final, 11.1.17
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