RYE – Field Hockey New York

Sunday, Baker Field – Rye closed out the first half of the season with their seventh straight victory, defeating previously unbeaten Greenwich 4-1. Going into the game missing their entire regular starting forward line, Rye knew it would take a disciplined performance to maintain their position at the top of the table. There were few opportunities for either team during the opening ten minutes as both teams were sizing up their opposition and were reluctant to open the game up. Despite creating a couple of chances, Rye fell behind to a quick break goal after a lack of patience in the final third of the pitch led to a needless turnover. Greenwich capitalised on their numerical advantage and Michaels slotted the ball past Johnstone to give Greenwich a 1-0 lead. As the half progressed, Rye started to exert continued pressure in the Greenwich half of the pitch and Von Thien scored a well deserved equaliser from a penalty corner break down. Rye doubled their tally 5 minutes before the break. Cheetham rattled the underside of the crossbar from a penalty corner and Anich turned in the loose ball from close range.

Despite their territorial advantage, Rye knew they would need to maintain their concentration in the second half if they wanted to take all three points against a dangerous Greenwich team. As the game wore on, Rye began to push Greenwich back. The Greenwich ‘keeper made a number of fine saves from Sandhu to keep the game close but had no answer to another Cheetham penalty corner after 45 minutes which gave Rye a 3-1 lead. Down by two goals, Greenwich tried to step up and build some pressure on the Rye defense but some composed play at the back and relentless work rate from Strube in the midfield allowed Rye to weather the storm. A Rye fast break with ten minutes remaining resulted in a penalty stroke which Cheetham converted to give the league leaders a 4-1 lead. Rye comfortably saw out the remainder of the game to make it a perfect 7-0 at the seasons half way mark.

Rye will be very pleased with their performance during the fall schedule and excited to see they are still capable of getting results in the absence of so many key players. There will still be a lot of work to do to retain the trophies won last season but Rye will be confident they have the squad to make another run at the league and playoff titles.

Rye FHC: Johnstone, Cheetham, Cherifi, Jones, Moore, Strube, Anich, Sandhu, Beckers, Groeneveld, Arthur, Von Thien, Sequiera.