Home Local Sports Wilmington Charter shuts out Ursuline, teams look toward field hockey playoffs

Wilmington Charter shuts out Ursuline, teams look toward field hockey playoffs

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Charter goalkeeper Gabrielle Simmons tracks this shot from Ursuline's Juliana Copeman. (The Dialog/Mike Lang)

WILMINGTON – Ursuline struggled to get its offense going, while Wilmington Charter managed two first-half goals as the Force defeated the Raiders, 2-0, in the field hockey regular-season finale for both teams on Nov. 1 at Charter.

The Force came out charging on an unseasonably warm fall afternoon. They picked up their first penalty corner less than one minute into the contest, and the pressure continued from there. Ursuline keeper Cleo Troy was called on to make her first save at the 26:05 mark when a long shot was deflected right at her.

(The Dialog/Mike Lang)

Sophia Gulotti got the Force on the board with 22:07 to go in the half, and it was a do-it-yourself project. Gulotti intercepted a Raiders pass about 30 yards from the cage. She dribbled through a defender and snapped a shot from a sharp angle to the left of Troy.

The Raiders earned their first penalty corner with 20:25 to go, managing a shot on goal out of it, but Gabrielle Simmons made the save for Charter. Ursuline wound up with another corner seconds later, but that did not result in a goal either.

The Force owned possession for most of the rest of the half, although Simmons had to come up big on a short shot by Jordan Kenney with 7:30 on the clock. Troy added a huge save as well, stoning Gulotti on a blast three minutes later.

With less than a minute remaining in the half, the Force were awarded a penalty corner, and they put on the pressure. Troy blocked a first attempt, and a defender knocked away a second swipe. But the Raiders could not make the third time the charm as Virginia Chitty poked the loose ball into the cage 12.6 seconds before intermission.

The Force outshot Ursuline, 14-9, and both teams had eight corners. The Raiders finished the regular season with a record of 11-4 and should find out where their Division II playoff journey begins on Friday.

Charter is also 11-4 and should be in the Division I tournament.