SPRINGFIELD, Vt. – Cosmos field hockey (0-4) hosted Burr and Burton (2-3) on Thursday night after the game had been pushed back from Tuesday due to wet playing conditions. Springfield failed to pick up their first win of the year, losing 3-1.
The Cosmos’ defense held strong through numerous Bulldogs’ attacks in the first half. Though much of the first frame was spent with Springfield’s defense on its heels, they were able to keep the Bulldogs off the scoreboard to go into the half tied 0-0.
On how the Cosmos’ defense played in the first half, Springfield co-coach Kelly DeAngelis said, “That was the best that we’ve seen them look. We kind of changed the formations up and we practiced it a lot on Wednesday… so that paid off in the first half for sure.”
The second half was a different story, as the visiting Bulldogs scored three goals in a twenty-minute span to shoot out to a 3-0 lead. “Burr and Burton was tough,” said Springfield co-coach Lyndsie Perkins after the game. “We definitely stood our ground stronger in the first half than in the second.”
Springfield’s goalkeeper, Anna Church, was able to make numerous saves in the second half, but the Bulldog’s pressure proved to be too much.
The Cosmos were able to put a goal in with 18 seconds left in the game, as Paige Congdon scored right in front of the net for the first Springfield goal since their loss to Windsor on September 4. “Paige really stuck right in front of the goal, and they almost lost control but she was right there to put it in,” said coach DeAngelis. “She’s our only senior so it always helps to have someone with that experience out there.”
“We’re seeing more connections than we did in the last couple games and we’re hopeful that we can see more of those,” said coach Perkins. “I hope to see some stronger defensive skills later in the game… I think that would be a nice goal moving forward. They’re a great group of girls and I think we can get there.”
Springfield (0-5) returns to action on Saturday as they host Otter Valley at 11 a.m. on Porter Memorial Field.
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