Sports

Lafayette Field Hockey Team Emerges as Pool Champions

A total of 48 teams from throughout the United States played in the 14th Gateway Field Hockey Tournament at the Anheuser-Busch Conference Center in Fenton this weekend.

The 14th Gateway Field Hockey Tournament is in the books, and it was a good outcome for west county teams of Lafayette, Marquette and Kirkwood high schools.

Under the guidance of veteran field hockey coach and official Kelly Yates, 48 teams from around the Midwest and around the country battled in 12 pools. Teams came from as far away as California, Texas, Kentucky and Wisconsin to show their skills on the turf skin of the Anheuser-Busch Conference Center in Fenton.

“We had some very exciting games. Several players emerged as real stars. We saw some great field hockey,” said Yates, the tourney’s director. Games were played almost non-stop from Friday through Sunday. On Monday, the junior varsity, freshmen, U-14 and U-12 teams got a chance to show their skills.

“We are undoubtedly the largest field hockey tournament in the nation,” she said proudly. She tipped her hat to the Scott Gallagher Soccer Club, which moved its Labor Day tournament to other locations to accommodate the field hockey teams.

“If the Soccer Park could add another turf field, we could expand the field and bring in some of those great teams from the east,” said Yates.

The strongest teams were in pools A, B, and C, and then it went from there.

Here is a synopsis of play by pools:

Pool A

Sacred Heart Academy of Louisville went 3-0, beating John Burroughs and Villa Duchesne along the way.

Pool B

finished 3-0 in the tournament. Kate Barber was the hero in the win over Nerinx Hall, scoring on a falling-down reverse stick shot on her own put back. That proved to be the only goal in the title game.

Pool C

Lake Forest of Chicago won this pool with wins over John Burroughs and MICDS.

Pool D

Marquette was 3-0 for the tournament and beat St. Joseph’s Academy in the championship match. Marquette junior goal keeper Angelina Kelly allowed just one goal in pool play. A remarkable weekend for the Mustangs who graduated five stars to college field hockey last season.

Pool E

DuPont Manual of Louisville. Manual emerged 3-0, defeating Ladue 2-1 and beating teams from California and Dallas.

Pool F

Presentation Academy of Louisville was 3-0.They beat Visitation Academy 2-1 in the title match.

Pool G

Kirkwood was the surprise winner here with a 3-0 record. The key win came with no time left on the clock with the Pioneers getting a corner shot to beat Kentucky Country Day School.

Pool H

University School of Milwaukee was 3-0, recording shutouts over locals Whitfield and University City.

Pool I

Lakes Community of the Chicago area finished 3-0. They had wins over Clayton and Rosati-Kain.


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