Knights “Flip” Over Bird

Favale, defense give Knights treat

by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond

Thomas Dale field hockey coach Beth Jaeckle didn’t need much of a pregame speech.

Her Knights were already motivated enough by a Jaeckle promise.

“I told them I’d do a flip if we got back to the championship,” said Jaeckle, who took gymnastics as a youngster. “The flips stuck. I need a little excitement to do it, though.”

Dale’s 1-0 victory over L.C. Bird in the Central Region semifinals Tuesday evening was enough.

The Knights (17-2) advance to face James River (16-2-1), a 2-1 overtime victor over Maggie Walker, in Thursday’s final at Maggie Walker.

The terrific Julie Robertson broke down the Skyhawk defense and found Deanna Smith, who located Loren Favale.

Carrie Jaeckle & Loren Favale, 10/30/07

Carrie Jaeckle and Loren Favale helped Thomas Dale advance to the Central Region final.

A little less than 10 minutes had elasped from the match and the Knights already had all they needed.

Thomas Dale dominated play but couldn’t hit the board again because of tough Bird defense from keeper Lauren Schoemmell and some unlucky bounces.

“We had our chances,” Favale said, “but as long as we come out on top it’s fine with me.”

With Jaeckle, too, but she wishes to be a little more comfortable.

“We definitely dominated, which was nice,” Jaeckle, the older sister of Carrie Jaeckle, said. “But a 1-0 lead is like not having a lead at all.”

Bird almost tied it right before the first-half horn.

Senior midfielder Jordan Hales led L.C. Bird to a surprise semifinal berth.

Skyhawks forward Shannon Cullen had a clean breakaway before Carrie Jaeckle caught up and jousted with her.

Cullen still managed to get off a cross, right between Dale standouts Miranda Lojek (goalie) and Kelsey Whittleton (halfback).

But Olivia Jenkins couldn’t quite get her stick on the ball to score in the wide-open goal.

“We’ve really been working on getting back,” Carrie Jaeckle said. “On the one breakaway they had, we were all getting back. I didn’t want the season to end.”

It won’t. Dale and final opponent James River advance to the state tournament.

The teams split their two meetings this season, after Dale won their region final meeting last season.