Forest Park ousted by N. Stafford

By Robert Daski

Published: November 4, 2008

Lydia Phillips spent most of Tuesday’s Northwest Region field hockey match turning away North Stafford’s shots. The Forest Park goalie, with the assistance of her defensive teammates, wanted to blank the Wolverines as long as possible.
“We kept them out for as long as we could,” Phillips said.
That is until the opening minutes of the second half when North Stafford’s Cari Schwenger put the ball past Phillips.
Schwenger’s goal was all the Wolverines needed as they walked away 1-0 winners, ending Forest Park’s season.
Taylor Dean drew the assist.
“The ball snuck in behind me,” Phillips said. “I wasn’t ready for it and it came in.”
Phillips still turned in a solid performance. She stopped a shot by North Stafford’s Callie Wetzelberger in the first half.
Midfielder Samantha Schottler helped Phillips a few minutes later by breaking up a rush from Schwenger.
Phillips also saved a shot by Taylor Armstrong before halftime.
“Lydia has a vision of the field, so she can see where things are coming,” Forest Park coach Edie Pybus said. “She also can take control because the defense plays together as a group.
“If she takes one spot, someone in the defense has the other spot of the goal.”
Forest Park’s offense failed to put together a strong attack. The Bruins’ two best shots came in the second half. Midfielder Blair Lowe had the ball on her stick, but got off a weak shot that sailed a few inches to the left of North Stafford’s goal.
Defender Kirsten Wilburn took a shot that went wide off a penalty corner.
“We needed to generate more chances,” Pybus said. “North Stafford’s a strong team. We had our opportunities. Once we got up there, we took our chances with things. But we didn’t have enough chances to try to put something in.
“Corners have been our strong point and we only got one.”
The Bruins (13-6) entered the match five days removed from beating Woodbridge in the Cardinal District tournament final.
Momentum was on their side and the Bruins tried to shake off the Wolverines’ tally by staying focused.
“The girls didn’t let down after North Stafford scored,” Pybus said. “They continued to really push. They didn’t let it get to them. They tried to push it up and get the shots.
“That was a problem we had in the beginning of the year. When we got scored on, we stepped back. This time, when they scored, we stepped up and took the challenge.”