For the first two minutes of Monticello and Covenant’s field hockey game Tuesday, when Darcy Alimenti knocked home a short corner entry drive from Brittany Haun, it appeared a shootout might be in the works.
It wasn’t.
In fact, 58 minutes later, that was still the only goal on the scoreboard as Monticello held tight to a 1-0 victory over the Eagles that was dominated by back and forth play in the midfield.
Alimenti’s goal came on the first short corner opportunity for either team. After Lydia Neuroth took a swipe at Haun’s strike, Alimenti poked it past Covenant goalie Kelsey Rund.
“The good thing is that we scored off the bat and that was our goal,” said Monticello coach Katie Owens. “I just wish we could’ve kept the momentum going and scored a couple more.”
From there, both teams traded shots the rest of the first half before the game ground to a halt after the break. The teams’ two goalies combined for just two saves in the second half, though Rund’s was a spectacular one on a Monticello breakway with about 13 minutes to play. The freshman keeper came up with the one-on-one stop, which kept the Eagles within striking distance.
“She’s doing great,” said Covenant coach Katie Lavie. “She plays goalie in lacrosse, but it’s a completely different game, so she’s really stepping it up.”
Covenant’s best chances to score came before halftime though, when Virginia Hill managed five shots and Taylor Brown had another but neither could capitalize. Monticello goalie Aileen Beringer headed off most of those attempts for the Mustangs, finishing with five saves on the night. Beringer avoided getting lulled to sleep by all the play in the midfield and stepped up at the right times for the Mustangs, maintaining her focus despite the long stretches without seeing much action despite the close score.
Monticello’s defense did a solid job throughout to hold the Eagles scoreless.
“Covenant did really well, they’ve got good speed and take quick shots,” Owens said. “I feel lucky to defend them as well as we did.”
Monticello had to reshuffle its lineup prior to the contest with two starters out, and that forced the Mustangs to push several key offensive players back into the midfield, hampering the chances of adding to the early lead.
The Mustangs take on St. Anne’s-Belfield today at STAB while Covenant takes on Fredericksburg Academy Friday at 4:30 p.m.
