Field Hockey: Walter Johnson 3, Churchill 2

By Cornelia Poku
Rockville student intern

Walter Johnson’s Georgina Beven surprised the crowd by scoring the first goal of the game on a full-field charge to the net. She thrilled it with the game-winning goal with just under six minutes to play, leading Walter Johnson to a 3-2 win over Churchill Tuesday at Richard Montgomery.

Walter Johnson (9-3) will now face Quince Orchard in the 4A West finals Thursday.

"I was like crying after the game," Beven said. "I just feel so good about it. We beat Churchill and they are a really good team. I'm just really proud of my team."

The first part of the first half was mostly unexciting as the ball made no progression towards either goal. As the last ten minutes of the game neared, the ball was on Walter Johnson’s side and the girls had to play fierce defense against many fouls and out-of-bounds calls that kept giving Churchill the ball.

With the chances looking bright for Churchill, Beven scored with 2 minutes and 50 seconds left in the first half. Churchill goalie, Jamie Soloman, dove to block the goal, but Beven avoided her with one quick dodge. Within the minute, Walter Johnson scored for a second time at 2:01 on a corner by Kat Graton.

With the score at 2-0, Churchill stepped up its game in the last minute and may have scored with a breakaway by Jenna Hawk, but the referee blew her whistle and the first half of the game ended.

More determined, the Churchill girls picked up where it left off, which earned them a stroke just two minutes into the first half. Shannon Disbrow scored in her stroke, bringing the score to 2-1.

But Walter Johnson’s defense played brilliantly. The three defensive players were strategic in stealing the ball and passing to the midfield. They held off Churchill well until Hawk scored again on an assist by Becca Kline with 8:34 left.

With the intense back and forth in the following three minutes, it looked as though the game would head into overtime, but Beven did it again and put Walter Johnson back on top with a breakaway goal. When the potential goal bounced of Solomon, Beven got the ball under control, tried again and scored.

Churchill made a good attempt to catch up, but Walter Johnson was too determined to prove their status.

“They played an extraordinary game,” Walter Johnson Coach Erika Murray said of her team. “They have been the underdogs all season. They can go as far as they want [in the playoffs].”