East Grand Rapids High School

EGR Varsity Field Hockey v Rockford High School- 9.09.24 On a perfect night for field hockey, the Lady Pioneers played an outstanding game from start to finish and took home a 3-1 victory from the Rockford Rams at Rockford. This was EGR's second OK Conference tilt and second victory. The Conference standing's are becoming clearer and EGR looks to be atop the table with two victories over major rivals Rockford and Forest Hills United. The team brought a lot of energy to the match up. From the moment they stepped off the bus right up until game time, the focus was clear on getting the job done tonight. The 1st quarter saw most of the play happening in the Rockford end as the Lady Pioneers were able to dictate the pace through the pressure their accurate passing and movement put on the Lady Rams defense. Even though the 1st quarter ended still scoreless it felt like only a matter of time. And that feeling was correct as early in the 2nd quarter Avery Albers ('27) went via the baseline, moved the goalie off her mark and slid a shot through the opening for the first tally. That spark lit the powder keg of enthusiasm to ratchet up the intensity. And the Lady Pioneers went into halftime with a 1-0 lead and feeling confident that they were just getting started. And they came out of the break with even more pressure. Kellan Hudson ('25) opened up for a beautiful pass off the left side of the circle from Vivian Cherveny ('26) and slotted home goal number 2 at just under a minute into the 3rd quarter. Rockford clawed and scrapped back into the contest with a goal off a penalty corner midway through the 3rd quarter to tighten the contest. Instead of letting that swing the momentum, EGR regained their composure and dialed up another opportunity of a penalty corner of their own with just 4 minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter. Henny Maher ('25) took the insert and slid a pass to Peyton Astrauskas ('27), who let loose with a hard shot that came off the goalie pads and allowed Albers to slot home her second tally of the match and put the Lady Pioneers in a commanding 3-1 lead. Although there were more opportunities for EGR to extend the lead in the 4th quarter, the Lady Rams endured the offensive onslaught and had a few counter attacks of their own to try to cut into the lead, but the EGR defense led by Ellie Hilgendorf's ('26) excellent play in goal and Isla Westra's ('26) poise in the face of offensive pressure kept the sheet clean the rest of the way. Great effort by the team, top to bottom, and a sign of things beginning to round into the shape the program expected from the onset of the year. Next up is another OK Conference match on Thursday, 12 September, against Spring Lake HS and an opportunity for the Lady Pioneers to define themselves as the team to beat in the conference.