East Grand Rapids High School

EGR Varsity Field Hockey v Skyline HS- 09.28.24 Gritty is the best word used to describe this match up with cross-state rival Ann Arbor-Skyline. Last year’s Division I MHSAA Runner-up carries some swagger with it, but the EGR Lady Pioneers were ready for the task at hand. And by the end, the spectators were willing the girls over the finish line of this hard-fought battle. With two key players sidelined due to injury, Vivian Cherveny (‘26) and Lillie Adamy (’26), the team relied on a “next one up” mentality to fill the void. And with that, it was game on for the girls from EGR. Camilla Volovlek (’28) became the central figure of the first half with two tallies, one in each quarter. However, the work of her teammates made her responsibilities that much easier. In the first quarter, with high energy from the opening whistle, it did not take EGR long to exert its pressure on the Skyline team. Ultimately, in the sixth minute, Addie Storrs (’26) found room to operate on the right side, and once inside the 16-yard area, sent a crisp cross that found its way onto Volovlek’s stick on the far side of the cage. With the goalie shading to follow the attacker, she left the back side open for Volvolek’s shot to slot into the back of the net. With a bang of the boards, it was 1-0 for the home side. In a similar instance in the 2nd quarter, Storrs found room down the right side again, but instead of settling for a cross, took it baseline and slid a pass to Avery Albers (’27) in the high circle area, who slid a low pass toward the opposite corner of the goal. Again, Volovlek was positioned in the right spot to slide it home. And just like that, going into halftime, the Lady Pioneers sat on the better side of a 2-0 lead. However, a team from the east side can never be counted out and the pressure that Skyline exerted at the beginning of the 3rd quarter showed why they made it as far as they did last year. In the fifth minute of the frame, Emerson Nalepa was able to finally get something by the staunch play of EGR goalkeeper Ellie Hilgendorf (’26), which was the one shot of the 11 that she did not stop on this day. With this new life, Skyline could smell a tying goal. The EGR defense, which has been steady and ready all year long for challenges such as this, remained poised and controlled under the leadership of center back Isla Westra (’26), who helped to organize the defense of Kelly McMahon (’26), co-Captain Addie Gessner (’25) and Addie Behler (’25), as each foray into their defensive zone was parried with a solid clearance of the ball out of danger, an athletic save by Hilgendorf, or great patience forcing Skyline into unforced errors. With time becoming their enemy, Skyline left some gaps that allowed EGR to break out and bring the ball down into the offensive zone. This forced Skyline, once they recovered possession, to build from the back to get into a potential scoring position. The Lady Pioneers never let up and as that final horn sounded, they jubilantly gathered around their defense and goalie. With steady resolve and trust in each other, the result was a true team victory. Not only did the team break through their Saturday slump, but they also beat an Ann Arbor-based team for the first time in six years. This should serve to boost team confidence headed into the final three matches (two OK Conference tilts) to complete the regular season. Tuesday, October 1, the team will play in conference foe Spring Lake on Mehney Field at 7 PM. It is also senior night to honor the four young women providing leadership all year- co-Captain Gessner, co-Captain Kellan Hudson (’25), midfield standout Henny Maher (’25), and defensive stalwart Behler (’25). Please come join the celebration. Next Saturday, October 5, the team will host Grand Blanc on Mehney Field at 11 AM as EGR takes on another east side squad in their final regular season home game. And the finale for the regular season will be against OK Conference opponent Hudsonville Eagles at Hudsonville on Monday, October 7 at 7 PM.