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2010 | 2010 Awards Junior Varsity 2010 Offensive Player of the Year – Maggie McLliney Defensive Player of the Year – Maggie Keenan Most Improved Player – Shannon Laird Rookie of the Year – Nicole McMindes Most Valuable Player – Emily Schnitker Players’ Player Award – Emily Schnitker
Varsity 2010 Offensive Player of the Year – Josie Vignatelli Defensive Player of the Year – Sabrina Kowalik Most Improved Player – Kristen Murphy Most Valuable Player – Grace Angrisano Players’ Player Award – Josie Vignatelli
Gateway Classic – September 3rd /4th The Varsity team kicked off the 2010 field hockey season at the Gateway Classic in St. Louis over the Labor Day weekend. Losing 4 senior starters from the 2009 Pool Championship winning team, it was a case of reorganizing and experimenting with new formations and defensive pairings.
Rosati Kain provided tough opposition in a closely contested draw at the end of the 2009 season, and our opening game of 2010 was no different. Rosati scored first and it was end to end for the majority of the game. Grace Angrisano leveled the score but Sion were unable to hold on and conceded a second to the eventual Pool H winners.
Game 2 was against Antioch of Illinois. Sion jumped to an early lead with their high pressure offence with Josie Vignatelli converting. Trying out new formations and personnel the team lost its shape and composure briefly, but Sabrina Kowalik was a rock in goal and kept the Storm in the game. Numerous opportunities were created but not capitalize upon. The pressure finally told in the closing stages with Kendall Grojean pouncing on a goal mouth scrabble for a well deserved second. Jessica Diaz and freshman Kristen Murphy put in impressive defensive displays.
The third and final game against University City was a close game throughout, with goalmouth opportunities for both teams. Sion’s defense stood firm but the offence found it difficult to breakdown the crowded midfield area.
Sion finished second in their pool. The team started to gel as a unit on and off the field, and gave some invaluable experience to the younger members of the squad. A great start to the season.
JV vs Pembroke Hill September 7th Junior Varsity played its first home game of the season on Tuesday and beat Pembroke Hill 2-0. From the first minute the girls put forth a heavy offensive front with the majority of the game being played in Pembroke’s half of the field. Goals were scored off penalty corners by Shannon Laird and the impressive Maggie McLiney on her birthday. It was a promising start to the season with this being the first hockey game for the majority of the players.
JV vs Nerinx Hall JV September 11th The Sion Storm welcomed Nerinx Hall from St. Louis for two competitive JV matches. The first game was a close contest throughout with both teams getting several opportunities on goal; however it was Nerinx Hall who converted one of their chances to seal a narrow 1-0 victory.
JV2 vs Nerinx Hall C September 11th Nerinx Hall C team came out strong early in the game and scored in the first half against Sion’s mainly freshmen team. The game was competitive throughout with both teams having chances on goal. It wasn't until the second half that we were able to even the score with a shot drilled from the top of the circle to the right corner of the goal by Maggie McLiney. The game ended in a 1-1 tie.
Kristen Murphy and Maggie Keenan displayed some great composure in defense, repelling numerous attacks on the Sion goal.
Holland Hall Tournament – Tulsa, OK September 17th & 18th Varsity The whole Sion field hockey squad travelled to the Holland Hall School in Tulsa this past weekend, and unseasonably warm weather welcomed them as they disembarked the bus. The Varsity team were first up against host Holland Hall. The heat and field conditions were also against them and conceded two early goals, the team couldn’t recover from the early setback and struggled to find their form and the game ended 4-0 to Holland Hall.
The second game was against a well drilled Casady team and saw some clinical finishing saw the Storm 4-1 down at half time, Josie Vignatelli scoring the lone goal for Sion. The second half started with a neatly taken far post goal from Abbey Jones, confidence and energy grew in the Sion players. It was all one way traffic for long periods and saw some nice passages of play, Maggie Naylor scored from a penalty corner as Casady clung onto their narrow advantage. Sion were unable to convert their numerous chances in front of goal and with time ticking away Casady converted a late penalty corner to finish the game 5-3. Grace Angrisano orchestrated the onslaught on the Casady goal in the second half. A well fought battle and an enjoyable game for the large travelling contingent of Storm fans!
Saturday morning was a little cooler and with heavy legs from the previous days endeavors Sion started sluggishly against Heritage Hall. Both teams had goal scoring opportunities and the Sion defense was resilient with Sabrina Kowalik and the unflappable freshman Kristin Webster having notable solid displays. Both teams went into half time tied at 0-0. The second half saw an improved performance from the team. A moment of individual brilliance from the ever improving Josie Vignatelli was the difference between the teams. Switching flanks, Vignatelli picked up the ball at the half way line and drove down the left wing with purpose, using her speed and skill to beat the oncoming defenders and slot the ball coolly past the rushing goalkeeper. Sion held on to win 1-0
The fourth and final game was against St Stephens of Texas. Both teams were equally matched for long periods, but the Saints converted their goalmouth chances and Sion were unlucky to lose 2-0.
The team fought hard throughout the weekend but put themselves under pressure through a lack of concentration early in the games, but there were many positives to take away from the games. Diaz, Vignatelli and Angrisano had some standout performances and freshmen Kristin Murphy was ice cool in defense.
Varsity The Sion Storm JV team grew in confidence with each game they played in Tulsa. Their first game against Holland Hall was a tight affair, with Sion narrowly being edged out 1-0.
The Sion team came up against local foes of St Thomas Aquinas. Large passages of play were played in the Saints circle, but Sion were unable to covert their chances. Maggie McLiney converted their lone goal, but the result did not reflect their domination. Nicole McMindes was amongst some notable performances.
The third and final game against Pembroke Hill saw the Sion Storm grow with confidence and some great passages of play. Before half time the Storm were 3-0 to the good. With goals from Kennedy Whitaker and a brace from Georgia Thompson, the third goal was an unstoppable drive inside the far post. Sion failed to add to the score line in the second half.
JV vs Pembroke Hill September 28th Junior Varsity played in town rival Pembroke Hill and were unlucky to be on the wrong side of a 3-1 loss. Sion’s lone goal was a neat finish scored by Dana Rozell. Nicole McMindes had an accomplished display in defense
Varsity vs Pembroke Hill September 28th The Sion Storm team took to the field against the Raiders of Pembroke Hill for the first this season full of confidence. The first half was a cagey affair with both teams having goal mouth opportunities but failing to convert, and entered half time all square.
The second half saw the Storm begin to stifle the Raiders midfield passing game and pressuring their defense with some incisive runs from the forward line. Josei Vignatelli was a constant threat with her blistering pace and broke the deadlock with a solo run down the left channel, leaving defenders in her wake and coolly slotting the ball past the on rushing goalkeeper.
Sion were unlucky not to double their advantage moments later from a well taken penalty corner from Senior Kylie Krizek. The ball found its way into the back of the net off a defenders stick, but the initial signal for a goal was called back, as the initial shot on goal was deemed ‘high and dangerous’. The Storm defense of Angold, Boos, Kershenbaum and Murphy absorbed some offensive pressure. Sabrina Kowalik was coolness personified in goal with a World class save to deny the Raiders and hung on to a thoroughly deserved victory.
JV vs Holland Hall October 2nd Junior Varsity came out with guns blazing against the Dutch of Holland Hall, catching the opposition cold, Maggie McLiney was dominant upfront and were on the scoreboard within 3 minutes with a superbly taken goal scored by Dana Rozell. Holland Hall rallied and it was an end to end game throughout. The Dutch scored from a penalty corner to level the scores before half time. Both teams fought valiantly but were unable to unlock each others defense and the scored finished a deservedly 1-1 tie. Maggie Keenan was an impassable in the Storm goal! A bright future awaits the freshman goalkeeper!
Varsity vs Holland Hall October 2nd Sion and Holland Hall had met 2 weeks previously in Tulsa and the Storm were on the wrong end of a 4-0 result. Keen to make amends, the Storm welcomed Mary Boos back into the lineup and she immediately shored up the defense with a commanding performance in a physical battle with the Dutch center forward. The first half was an open game with opportunities in front of either cage. Sabrina Kowalik and Mary Boos combining to subdue the Dutch offense, and restricted them to occasional shots at goal and no penalty corners. The second half started brightly for Sion, but a lapse in concentration saw Holland Hall score a breakaway goal from a long pass which caught the Sion defense out of position at the half way line. The ever improving Josie Vignatelli had an opportunity to level the score soon after with a similar one on one breakaway, but her shot was saved by the goalkeeper. With time running out to level Kylie Krizek, Grace Angrisano and Kendall Grojean all played outstandingly but were thwarted by the Holland Hall defense. Although the Storm lost 1-0, they produced their best defensive performance of the season so far and can hold their heads high to compete against a team who had beaten them easily only a few weeks prior. Mary Boos had a notable MVP performance in defense!
JV vs St Thomas Aquinas October 7th The Sion JV team came up against a determined Aquinas, their first ever meeting against the team from Kansas. Both teams had opportunities to score, but failed to convert their chances. Both JV and the Freshmen games ended in a 0-0 tie.
JV vs Heritage Hall October 9th The Sion Storm JV team were up early and raring to go at the Pembroke Hill field. Heritage Hall started brightly but the Storm competed admirably. Nicole McMindes was composed in defense along Meghan Neisus. Dana Rozell and Emma Allegri were energetic down the left flank and had many attacking forages into opposition territory. Scores were tied halftime but Maggie McCliney converted a swiftly taken free hit from outside of the 25yd line and powered in her shot past the Heritage Hall goalkeeper, and proved to be the winning goal with the game ending 1-0 to the Storm!
Varsity vs Heritage Hall October 9th Missing practically their entire regular midfield for their early morning encounter, a reshuffled Storm team battled valiantly against their Oklahoma City opponents. The Storm were unlucky to end the first half a goal down. Unable to convert their goal mouth and penalty corners opportunities, the Storm put themselves under pressure to level the scores. The Storm conceded one too many defensive corners, and for the first time this season conceded from a corner. Angrisano and Vignatelli were energetic upfront, Angold and Boos were composed in defense and freshmen Emily Schnitker impressed in her first outing for the Varsity team.
JV vs St Thomas Aquinas October 14th The Sion Freshmen team lost a close game to their Kansas rivals 1-0, whils the JV team defeted the Aquinas Varsity team 1-0 with the winning goal coming from Jaqueline Vohs.
Varsity vs Oakville October 16th Sion started sluggishly against Oakville of St. Louis, and the defense was caught napping at the half way line early in the game and Oakville scored from their first incursion into the Storm circle. The midfield finally woke up and started to control the game and dominated in terms of possession and played the game mostly in the opposition territory. Abbey Jones came on as a substitute and her first contribution was to put the ball into the back of the net at the far post with her first touch of the ball. The Storm then began to play to their potential and covert their opportunities and went into half time 4-1 up, with goals from Grace Angrisano, Kendal Grojean, Jose Vignatelli and second goal from Jones. The second half continued much like the first as the opposition tired. Maggie Naylor scored a rasping shot into the corner of the goal after some sublime run from Vignatelli. The Storm were then able to change their personnel and formations and saw freshmen Emily Schnitker gain valuable playing time. The game finished 5-1.
JV vs Oakville October 16th The Sion JV put in the best team performance of the season in their 3-0 victory over Oakville. The Storm refused to be intimidated and out worked the opposition, winning every 50/50 ball and displayed the grit and determination needed to wear the Sion Storm uniform with pride! Shannon Laird converted the first goal in the first minute of play as the defense and midfield held firm until half time. Thwarting the opposition offensive corners was the ever impressive birthday girl Maggie Keenan. The second half continued the Storm high pressure offense, Meghan Neisus capped off an impressive display with a scrambled goal at the far post and Maggie McCliney made the game safe by driving a sublime shot into the goal from a Storm corner in a thoroughly deserved victory! | ||
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