Dialog reporter
HOCKESSIN – Padua and Sanford battled through 60 minutes of regulation and another 15 minutes of sudden-death overtime, but 75 minutes of action wasn’t enough. Two of Delaware’s best high school field hockey teams – Padua is ranked sixth by Delaware Sports Zone, and Sanford is seventh – could not find the cage in a 0-0 stalemate Tuesday afternoon.
The teams showed off their defenses, particularly in the first half, when the Warriors and Pandas managed one shot each. The chances picked up after intermission, and Sanford’s Carter Ayars was stopped by Pandas keeper Hailey Power with a nice kick save less than two minutes into the half. The Warriors kept the pressure on – they had seven penalty corners in the second half – but could not convert.
Warriors keeper Paige Amendum was Power’s equal, making four saves for the afternoon. Padua’s best chances came around the 10-minute mark of the second half. First, Amendum stopped an attempt off a Pandas penalty corner, then she whacked away a crossing pass from Abigail Boudart on a Padua odd-man rush.
In the sudden death, Padua’s best opportunity caught the side of the cage to Amendum’s left, while Sanford had a shot deflected just over the crossbar. The teams would have to settle for a tie.
There was a scary moment midway through the second half when Boudart caught ball in the ribs when a teammate tried to clear the ball from the Pandas’ defensive end with a slap shot. Boudart caught her breath, waved off the trainer and continued playing.
The Pandas managed four shots, while Sanford had five. Each team was awarded eight penalty corners. Padua (8-0-1) will look to get back on the winning track Thursday at 3:45 p.m. at St. Mark’s, while Sanford takes its 8-2-1 record to powerful rival Tower Hill, also on Thursday at 3:45 p.m.
