Hawks Varsity field hockey – unflappable, unbeatable – unbelievably good

Varsity girls continue their unrelenting roll – to an ultimate goal

By Terrance Gavan - Oct. is breast Cancer Month

Sometimes the stats don’t tell the real story.

The Hawks are simply superb this season.

   And sometimes – as in the prepossessing statistical outpouring currently being writ large by Hal High Red Hawks women’s varsity field hockey team – stats remain as the only way to properly place a season in perspective.

   So here’s the deal.

   In nine games – including six played at Ottawa’s Sir Robert Borden Tournament last weekend – the Hawks are 3-0 in league play, and 8-1 overall. (Their only blemish coming by way of a controversial 0-0 [2-1] shootout loss to North Hastings in the tourney final.)

   Impressive?

   Of course.

   But not nearly as impressive as the overall line.

   The Hawks are 41-0 in the goals for/against column.

   And really that’s pretty darn eye-popping, even for the most skeptical deniers of statistical efficacy.

   Last Tuesday afternoon (Oct 5) the Hawks crumpled visiting Thomas A Stewart 6-0.

   Lindsey Pogue led the scoring parade with a pair while, Brittany Howe, Grace Diezel, Sandy Griffith, and Vicky Bukta all struck once.

   It was just another case of wholesale domination - poetry in motion.

   The Hawks obviously have a potent offensive attack, but it’s an offense that begins with the pinching play of a very solid defense.

   Caley Sisson, the erstwhile mastermind and mentor behind this fledgling juggernaut has a pretty simple explanation for this stellar start on an unprecedented season.

   “We’re on a mission,” smiles Sisson. “The core of the team participated in the Ontario Summer Games, placing 4th in the province. Ten of the 15 players I coached in junior last year; and they were the Kawartha Champions. The other five players are returning COSSA champions from last year's varsity team coached by Paul (Morissette).

   “Our goals for the season: to be Kawartha Champions, COSSA Champions and compete at OFSAA again - placing in the top 12. I am very optimistic about this team; the girls are extremely dedicated - practicing 5 days a week and weekly throughout the summer. I’m confident in their abilities and we have set realistic goals that can be obtained with hard work, determination and consistent effort - all of which the girls demonstrate on a daily basis.”

   They won their home opener against Holy Cross 3-0 – goals by Diezel, Lucy Belli, Pogue – and followed that up with a 6-0 drubbing of Crestwood Secondary.

   Diezel nailed a hat trick and Pogue popped a pair with a singles tally from Tara O’Sullivan.

   In the Borden tourney the line was just as impressive.

   They defeated Bell High 6-0 in their opener (Goals to Griffith, Pogue (2), Grace Diezel (2), and Laura Pottier. They drifted by Maxwell HS 8-0. (Goals by Pogue (2), Grace Diezel (3), Jillian Mayhew, Ali Hicks and Griffith)

   Hawks crunched North Toronto 7-0 in their third game of the round robin on the basis of a stunning four goal performance by Griffith. Singles went to Diezel, Mayhew and Pottier.

   They defeated Earl of March 4-0 on goals by Diezel, Pogue, Griffith, and Brittany Howe.

   The rolling hawks then edged out Nepean’s Merivale High School 1-0 in the tourney semi-final on the basis of a Diezel timely tally.

And in the final The girls played Hastings to a draw before finally succumbing 2-1 in penalties.

   “The Game was 0-0 at the end of the 30 minutes, sending us to sudden death penalty strokes,” says Sisson. “Sandy Griffith scored and one goal was denied (Pogue’s try). It crossed the goal line, but it was unfortunately missed by the umpire.”

   The Red Hawks are on the pitch this afternoon versus St Thomas.

   They’ll be sharing home games with both football teams.

   Do yourself a favor and step lively over to the pitch just behind the basketballl courts.

   It may offer a little eye-opening shuck and jive to some history in the making.

   And for Sisson?

   Encore?

   “Our season is going very well,” says the coach, who remains very workmanlike and capable in her approach. “If we continue with the same intensity and team cohesion, the rest will fall into place.”

   We’ll be watching … intently.

   Get Gav at gav@pardontheeruption.com. Twitter Gav at twitter.com/terrancegavan.