Dialog reporter
WILMINGTON – Padua and Middletown were deadlocked at a goal apiece through most of the second half of Friday’s season-opening nonconference field hockey game, and for a long time, it appeared the match was headed into overtime. But a deflection by junior Katie Buczik with 7:40 remaining proved to be the deciding tally in the Pandas’ 2-1 win over the Cavaliers at a sweltering Forbes Field.
The goal was enough because the Pandas’ defense shut down the Cavaliers in the second half. Buczik made sure the teams would be leaving on time when she tipped a pass from Jill Sherman waist-high past Middletown goalie Lauren Berry.
Buczik’s goal capped a dominant second half for Padua. The Pandas, after watching Middletown tie the score late in the first half, controlled possession throughout the second stanza. Padua just could not get any real offensive threats themselves despite six penalty corners, five of which came early in the half. But Buczik was there when she was needed.
Padua coach Jayne Hughes said the heat played a role in her strategy, and that may have affected the Pandas.
“I had to make substitutions constantly. Some girls were in positions they had never played before, but as long as they were fresh, we were in better position than with a girl being tired,” she said.
The teams played an even first half. Padua struck first at the 21:04 mark when junior Kathleen Melia, streaking down the middle, took a cross from Brianna Niggebrugge in stride and knocked one past Berry. Melia said it was a matter of taking advantage of a nice feed from Niggebrugge.
“It was just a nice cross to the center, and I just had my stick there. I’ve been working on not swinging at it, so I just kept my stick down and it went off of it,” she said.
Padua goalie Hailey Power made a nice save with 10 minutes to go in the half, but Middletown answered two minutes later. Senior Emily Saylor took an outlet pass and ran three-quarters of the length of the field, weaving around a few Padua defenders and beating Power to the far side for the 1-1 tie.
The Pandas missed on an opportunity later in the first half when the ball rolled inches wide of the net, and the Cavaliers could not take advantage of two late penalty corners. The teams went into intermission deadlocked.
The teams seemed to navigate the heat fairly well, but the field presented a challenge. Passing and dribbling were difficult as the ball frequently jumped over sticks. The Pandas did have an opportunity with 12 minutes to go, but Berry stuffed a shot from in close. Melia said her team is used to the surface and how it affects play.
“It’s gotten easier,” she said. “Turf if definitely less bouncy, but we’ve kind of adjusted.”
Padua (1-0) outshot the Cavaliers, 16-5, and had an advantage of 8-4 in penalty corners. They play again on Sept. 19 at 3:45 p.m. at Tatnall. Middletown is 0-1 and will try for its first win at Concord on Sept. 14 at 3:45 p.m.
