East Chapel Hill field hockey sweeps season series against Carrboro
Facing each other for the second time in less than a month, the East Chapel Hill field hockey team completed a season sweep of Carrboro with a 5-1 win at home on Tuesday.
Despite dominating the possession and earning the better of the scoring opportunities early on – East Chapel Hill earned seven penalty corners to the Jaguars’ two in the opening half– the Wildcats were stymied by Carrboro senior goalie Abby Seagroves several times, but eventually broke through, scoring twice in the final 10 minutes of the first half with goals by freshman forward Leah Hurwitz and junior forward Sasha Bull to tilt the game in their favor.
“I’ve never been happier with our teamwork this season,” East Chapel Hill coach Susan Taylor Little said. “We played really, really well as a whole team.”
Facing an uphill battle down two goals after halftime, things got worse for Carrboro when East Chapel Hill senior forward Reilly Reed extended her team’s advantage with a goal less than eight minutes into the second half.
The Jaguars pulled one back just minutes later when midfielder Flora Devonport’s shot found the back of the net. Unfortunately for Carrboro, that was a close as it would get to mounting a comeback as East Chapel Hill added two more goals late in the game.
“The amount of improvement we’ve made over the last two months is incredible and I’m really proud of them, but East is a solid team and they always are,” Carrboro assistant coach Neela Mahanty said. “We just didn’t capitalize on our opportunities and they did and that made the difference on the scoreboard.”
TURNING POINT
Still only a goal behind, Carrboro found itself within striking distance as halftime approached. But a powerful shot from Bull got past Seagroves with just over two minutes remaining in the first half and the goal gave the Wildcats some breathing room.
“I think that a one-goal score going into halftime is definitely dangerous, so having a two-goal cushion not only made us feel more secure, but also motivated us more,” Bull said.
THREE TO KNOW
Sasha Bull, East Chapel Hill: Bull was involved in three of the Wildcats’ five scores, as she also recorded an assist in addition to her two goals.
Leah Hurwitz, East Chapel Hill: Hurwitz opened the scoring for her team and also assisted on Bull’s second goal.
Abby Seagroves, Carrboro: East Chapel Hill might have had seven or eight goals if it wasn’t for the stellar play of Seagroves, who more than held her own in goal.
HIGHLIGHT REEL
With the game still scoreless, Hurwitz made a sprint towards the net as she received a well-placed pass from junior Katie Agatucci before she fought off a defender and maneuvered past Seagroves to score.
THEY SAID IT
“I think tonight was the turning point for our girls. They knew we had to do something tonight, or it wasn’t going to happen and everybody stepped up.” – East Chapel Hill coach Susan Taylor Little.
This story was originally published October 5, 2016 at 2:46 AM with the headline "East Chapel Hill field hockey sweeps season series against Carrboro."