TURNER – The KVAC Class B Field Hockey Championship came down to a coin flip.
Although Belfast rolled to a 3-0 victory over Leavitt – the Lions’ third victory over the Hornets this season – the coin flip at the beginning of the game took on an unusual importance in the final outcome.
“We couldn’t see anything in the first half,” said Belfast coach Allen Holmes. “The sun was shining off the white ball, and the girls all mentioned that it was a factor.”
All three of the Lions’ goals came in the second half, when the setting sun was out of their eyes. Ironically, Belfast had Leavitt to thank for catching that break. The officials mistakenly allowed the Hornets to call the coin flip as the home team, since the game was taking place on Leavitt’s home field. Belfast, though, owned the better record of the two teams and was considered the home squad.
Once the confusion was ironed out and the coin was reflipped, the Hornets switched their choice of ends to defend, giving the Lions the sun at their backs for the second half.
“It should have worked out the opposite way, but for some reason (Leavitt) wanted to switch,” said Holmes. “That worked out well for us.”
With the sun no longer a factor, Lions forward Briana Curry punched in a pair of goals and Jillian Ross added another for Belfast (15-0). The Lions’ defense allowed Leavitt little chance to get into the game, holding the Hornets to only three shots.
“We started playing their game a little bit in the first,” said Curry. “When we came out at halftime, we were ready to go.”
The Hornets (10-4) were stingy on defense, at one point holding Belfast without a shot on a run of six penalty corners. In the second half, though, Belfast held the ball in Leavitt’s defensive zone for longer stretches, and eventually solved Hornet keeper Kristen Capen.
“We tried to play a little more containing defense, not rushing at them, playing more in control,” said Leavitt coach Wanda Ward-MacLean. “We had a great first half, and it was a great game overall. Unfortunately, we made a few mistakes, and they capitalized on them.”
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