Field Hockey: Quince Orchard 1, Westminister 0

By Ryan Mink
rmink@digitalsports.com

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Quince Orchard sophomore Leah Hunsinger had never before cried after a field hockey game.

But when Hunsinger slapped in the game-winning overtime goal against Westminister in Wednesday’s 4A state semifinals in Gambrills, Md., she couldn’t hold back.

“I started bawling and I couldn’t stop,” Hunsinger said. “I don’t even remember because all my emotions were going crazy.”

Hunsinger’s goal came just 42 seconds into the overtime period after 60 minutes of scoreless regulation. Kristina Anderson centered the dead ball and it bounced off Allie Ready’s stick right to Hunsinger, who with one stroke slipped it between two Westminister defenders on the goal line.

The win puts Quince Orchard (13-3) into the 4A state finals for the third straight season. The Cougars will face Anne Arundel’s Severna Park, who has won three straight state championships and who advanced with a 4-0 win over Springbrook in the second game of the doubleheader.

Severna Park won the 3A state title in 2006, the same year Quince Orchard won the 4A championship. The Falcons moved to the 4A division last year and beat the Cougars in the title game, 2-0.

Hunsinger’s older sister, Beth Hunsinger, was on the 2006 Quince Orchard championship team. That has provided younger sister with plenty of motivation to leave her own mark.

“It’s my turn as a sophomore; my sister went to states so I knew it was my turn,” Hunsinger said. “I need to beat her and I need to win a state championship too.”

Hunsinger wasn’t the only Cougar crying. Senior midfielder Alyssa Peterson was wiping away tears of joy minutes after giving first-year head coach Laura Williams her hugs.

“It’s just such a relief,” Peterson said. “We had so much going against us in the beginning of the season with the new coach and just keeping the program alive. All the hard work we’ve put in to keep the program at the level it was at has finally paid off and it shows. We’re going back to states. We’re still at the same level we always were.”

Westminiser saw its undefeated season end at 16-1. The Owls dominated the start of the second half, not allowing Quince Orchard to even pass midfield for more than 10 minutes, and had five consecutive penalty corners with no time on the clock at the end of regulation.

Three of the four corners resulted in shots that missed by inches or were saved by Quince Orchard sophomore goalie Rachel Lipman.

“I just scream my head off at people if they don’t mark in the circle. I guess that’s why my voice is still hoarse,” Lipman said. “They were like there or four [close goals], maybe. But it was like right outside the post. That was good; a lot better than inside the post.”

Williams couldn’t remember what she said in the huddle just before overtime. It was probably something inspirational, she said, but the Quince Orchard players don’t need much of that. Hunsinger said the players simply stated they needed to score fast.

And that they did. But now Quince Orchard has to worry about a Severna Park team that scored in its semifinal game much faster than the Cougars.

Peterson said the Cougars are more open to taking chances against a very strong Severna Park squad and if that means a loss than so be it, but at least there won’t be any regrets.

“We learned we have to go into the game believing anything is possible,” Peterson said. “As long as you play 150 percent and leave your heart on the field, anything can happen.”