Sunday, May 28, 2023
Hello EIMS FH Players & Families,
The Modified eam continued its string of exciting games all the way through to the end of the season. First, the team used the first half of one of its final practices to prepare for both a grass and then turf game in the final week. The last half of that practice was the now-annual Make-Your-Own-Sundae Monday — 11 containers of the players' favorite ice cream flavors, plus syrup and sprinkles and whipped cream (and don't forget the watermelon slices!). It was a good chance to enjoy the company of teammates at the picnic tables by the Lancer Cafe.
The team's final away game brought everyone back to Fairport, but this time to the grass field at Martha Brown Middle School. It was still one of the teams in the league with the fewest players (15), but it was also an improved squad...especially with its few more experienced players sending big hits up field. The ball got "stuck" on one side of the field in the first half, and rearrangement of the Lancer lineup and different combinations of players were used to try to spread out play. The Martha Brown team found itself in the Lancer circle midway through Q2 and even got off a shot...but it went wide left. The home team had possession of the ball to start the second half and the energy level was noticeably higher by both teams. The Lancers had great success coming down the right alley, but it was Martha Brown that got into the visitors' circle within five minutes and had a corner a minute later. Play continued back-and-forth, and with less than a minute left in the quarter the home team took the lead. The Lancers right wing attack got on the move again, and two minutes into the final period of play it was a Nicole to EQ to Nicole to Jada combination that tied up the score. The intensity level went up another notch for the last 10 minutes of the game. There were more Lancer attempts to take the lead, but the Lancers also needed goalie saves and defensive stops and an EQ steal of the Fairport corner insert to preserve the tie as the final whistle blew. Whew!
After a final practice with the players' favorite drills, it was time to face the Penfield-Bay Trail Team again - this time on the Eastridge Stadium turf. It felt to be good to be back on turf, and the Lancers were in the Bay Trail circle within the first minute. Midway during Q1, the Lancers were having their first corner, but the ball went by the waiting players and was suddenly on its way to the Lancer circle at the other end. Goalie Brimari made the save. Each team had turns generating attacks only to have them stopped by deep defenders. With 80 seconds left in the first period, the ball finally got by the last of the Lancer defenders and 3 Bay Trail players had a fast break that ended with a Penfield goal. Just like Tuesday's Martha Brown game, play intensified and there were different combinations tried to get the equalizer. After halftime, there were Lancer right side attacks and crosses that provided opportunities to score. Goalie Brimari stopped one more one-on-one in the final 47 seconds, and so the slim Q1 lead remained the only score of the game.
It was a major turnaround of a season...with more players on the roster, and more goals for, and less goals against. More importantly, it was a fun group of players who worked to improve, and to add to their skills, and to play a competitive game in the spirit of the game (and who just might've caught the "hockey bug"...my goal for each of them at the beginning of the season).
As always, please also check out Coach Fischer’s “All Lancer FH” Weekly Update on the home page of this website. She provides information on the TWO teams East Irondequoit is entering in the June 4th 7v7 FH tournament at West Irondequoit HS. AND, she provides registration and DISCOUNT info for the July 10-13 Nazareth FH Camp.
— Coach Adams
EIMS Modified FH Head Coach
NOTE: "The SCOOP" was originally handwritten and handed out to each player weekly by Coach Adams for many seasons.
Sunday, May 21, 2023
Hello EIMS FH Players & Families,
We knew last week was going to be the most challenging week of the season so far. Not only was it a 3-game week, but the first two opponents were the Middle School teams for the recent Monroe County Varsity Divisional Champions. It was exciting to be playing these teams at this point in the season because so many Lancer players are catching on to the game, improving their skills, and giving opponents a competitive game.
The Pittsford Calkins Road MS team agreed to arrive early at EHS Stadium turf on Monday so there was a better chance for half of the Lancer team to play as many quarters as possible before leaving for the National Junior Honor Society induction ceremony. A strong starting group for the Calkins team got an early Q1 goal, but Jada’s goal (on a Quinn assist) in Q2 tied it all up. Calkins added a pair after half-time, but Nicole’s first goal of the season closed the gap. The Lancers were still on the attack as time ran out.
On Thursday, the team traveled to play at Mendon HS stadium turf versus Pittsford Barker Road MS. The Barker starters kept trying to blast the ball down the field on their self-starts during Q1, but the Lancer defensive players kept turning them away. As Barker started inserting players from its huge 20- plus roster during Q2, the momentum began swinging into the Lancer’s favor. On a Lancer offense corner, the Barker goalie made a save, and a Lancer shot on goal went wide. Eventually, one of Barker’s long -drive self-starts reached a forward who added her stick for a score. Lancer goalie Brimari needed to make 4 quick saves in a row before the half came to a close with the home team owning only a one-goal lead. Momentum returned to the Lancers in Q3. Emma Q. had much success going down the right alley. Her early crossing pass to Jada was redirected toward goal, but stopped by the goalie. The Lancers had 7 corners before the quarter ended. At one point, the home goalie was on the ground frantically and repeatedly trying to kick the ball away from the cage, but no penalty stroke was awarded to the Lancers. Center mid Nicole continued to consistently distribute play throughout the game. Barker had 2 more corners and one more goal before the final whistle, but the Lancers had played their best full game of the season.
There was little time to recover from that well-played Thursday game, as the team was on the road again Friday afternoon to play on a grass field at Fairport Johanna Perrin MS. Both teams had trouble getting the ball out of the crowded center of the field. There was a fair amount of contact with so many sharing the same space, and unusual calls by the official added to the frustration. The home team got a goal before the half ended when a defensive hit out of the circle was rebounded back into the circle and knocked into the cage. It was much of the same in the second half and different lineups were put together to try to get the equalizer. It was still only a one-goal game with time running out before the home team’s 3-goal deluge in an 8-minute span. There was frustration and disappointment on the bus ride home after such a top-notch week of play. It was a hard lesson for this young Lancer squad about the range of emotions that can surface when you are on a team you care about, and after having experienced a loss in such a tough game.
The good news is that the team gets to play another game (actually two) and will use this final week to enjoy the annual Make-A-Sundae practice on Monday before its final AWAY game at Fairport Martha Brown MS (on grass) on Tuesday and its final game of the season at HOME versus Penfield Bay Trail MS on Thursday.
As always, please also check out Coach Fischer’s “All Lancer FH” Weekly Update on the home page of this website. She provides game day details for each game this week.
— Coach Adams
EIMS Modified FH Head Coach
NOTE: "The SCOOP" was originally handwritten and handed out to each player weekly by Coach Adams for many seasons.
Sunday, May 14, 2023
Hello EIMS FH Players & Families,
The Lancers were coming off an impressive 3-0 win versus Webster-Willink the previous Friday when they hosted Irondequoit-Dake on Tuesday afternoon. Despite an early Lancer trip into the Dake end of the field, it was the visitors who took the first corner of the game. Then, the visitors scored midway through the first quarter. It looked like the Lancers would tie it up in the second quarter as they had 5 corners spaced out every couple of minutes throughout the quarter, but saves by the Irondequoit goalie kept the score in Dake's favor. The pace picked up noticeably after halftime, and Lancer right wing Emma Q scored her first goal of the season after a Nicole assist. Lancer goalie Brimari made a save after a Dake corner to keep the score tied at one apiece going into the final quarter. Hard hits on self-starts out of the Dake end of the field during Q4 turned away many Lancer attempts to take the lead. Momentum seemed to be switching and the home team called a time out. Soon after, Dake found themselves in the Lancer end and were able to get a shot off that was saved by the Lancer goalie. With just 3:33 left in the game, Irondequoit took the lead after a hard crossing pass from the right side eventually found the net. The Lancers ran out of time trying to even the score.
The team will return to action this coming week with a home game on Monday versus Pittsford-Calkins Road, and that game will try to start at 4:30PM to hopefully allow more players to play more quarters before the EIMS National Junior Honor Society Induction Ceremony. The team will travel to play the Pittsford-Barker Road squad at the Thornell Park turf field next to Pittsford-Mendon HS on Thursday at 5PM. Right away on Friday, the Lancers will be on the road again - this time for a game on the grass field at Fairport-Johanna Perrin School at 5PM.
Many thanks to all who helped make the annual Field Hockey Spring/Mother's Day Flower Sale fundraiser such a success. It was an amazing group of family members and field hockey alums and players who showed up early or stayed late and worked hard to make the flower pick-up process go so smoothly (and it helped that Thursday's weather cooperated too).
It is hard to believe that the season is coming to an end. There will be 5 more games crammed into 9 days, and it will be exciting to see how they go.
As always, please also check out Coach Fischer’s “All Lancer FH” Weekly Update on the home page of this website. She provides game day details for each game this week.
— Coach Adams
EIMS Modified FH Head Coach
NOTE: "The SCOOP" was originally handwritten and handed out to each player weekly by Coach Adams for many seasons.
Sunday, May 7, 2023
Hello EIMS Modified FH Players & Families,
It was a FULL week, with 3 games (2 away, and 1 home with the team photos being taken beforehand). The 4 players who were in the Middle School play were available for practices and games. Most field hockey skills have been introduced, and many skills are now being practiced in combination with other skills. Skills are increasingly being performed at greater speed (when appropriate) and with more control. Special situations are being more specific as game strategies are being introduced. Corner set-ups (for attack corners and defensive corners) are receiving more time in practice, and are beginning to show promise during actual games.
Monday's game was away on the Brighton Twelve Corners grass field. There was plenty of time to adjust to the grass field conditions because the official arrived late. It was the first time the Lancers had all 17 players on the roster available for the game. Despite 2 first quarter attack corners by our Lancers, the score remained 0-0. With only 2 subs for Brighton, many of the first quarter players were in this quarter while new players for the Lancers were just getting in. Play was more end-to-end and goalkeepers from both teams had to make saves to keep the score tied at zero. The Lancers were in the Brighton circle when play ended for halftime. Goalie Brimari only needed one save in the third quarter while the Brighton goalie needed two to still keep the game a stalemate. In the final quarter, the Lancers definitely picked up the pace, had 3 attack corners, and the Brighton goalie needed 3 more saves to preserve the scoreless final score.
Wednesday was a home game on the Eastridge Stadium turf. Webster-Spry arrived with almost double the number of players from the season before. The game was quite evenly matched, and play moved from end-to-end and side-to-side. Eastridge goalie Brimari continued making wise decisions when Brighton shots on goal near the goalposts were going out of bounds instead. There was an observable surge toward goal after a Lancer timeout in the second half. Nicole ended up with the lone goal for the game and it was another Lancer one-goal win.
Even though the turf surface at the Basket Road field was a "thicker grass" and only field hockey markings were on the field, the Lancers immediately adjusted and used the coin toss choice to start play. Emma F's long hit found speedy winger Emma Q, and the ball was in the Willink scoring circle quickly. The corner drill that was practiced while waiting for the team bus to arrive ended up working (it was the first time for the coach as a "ball" for the walk-throughs) and Emma F scored for the Lancers with under 2 minutes into the game. Jada found the net midway through the quarter, and then Jada found the net again as the quarter was ending. All 3 goals were assisted by Nicloe V. With the score that high and so early, it was a good chance to try all kinds of combinations against the smaller and younger Wilink squad for the remainder of the game. Many on the Lancer team had a chance to see what different positions and different layers and different sides of the field felt like in an actual game. Play did go end-to-end, goalkeepers from both teams had to make saves, and there were attack corners by both teams (new Lancer configurations had players defending who had never defended a corner before - great adjusting on the fly!). The Lancers took home a 3-0 win to end the week.
There will only be one game this week - home versus Irondequoit-Dake on Tuesday on the Stadium turf at 5PM. It will also be the last time for a week with so many practices in a row. These practices will be critical for fine-tuning play before the last 5 games of the season occur within 9 days time.
NOTE: The FH Flower Sale Pick-up is this Thursday 5/11 on the EHS Stadium Concourse 10am-6pm
Volunteers who will be sorting flowers into orders should arrive at EHS Stadium by 7:30am
All FH Families who participated in the sale should carefully review the flower sales info texted to them last week and make sure you have a plan for picking up your flowers on 5/11 as well as flowers you are delivering. You also need to remind purchasers on your list who will be picking up their orders themselves on 5/11 that they need to pick up between 10am-6pm.
SHORTENED THURSDAY PRACTICE for Modified FH 3-4:30pm - We will be ending practice 30min earlier (4:30pm instead of our usual 5pm) so that EIMS FH families have time to pick up their FH flower orders and/or flower deliveries @EHS stadium.
As always, please also check out Coach Fischer’s “All Lancer FH” Weekly Update on the home page of this website.
— Coach Adams
EIMS Modified FH Head Coach
NOTE: "The SCOOP" was originally handwritten and handed out to each player weekly by Coach Adams for many seasons.
Sunday, April 30, 2023
Hello EIMS Modified FH Players & Families,
With the originally-scheduled game versus Penfield taking place last weekend, it was an unusual week of 4 practices and just one game. Additionally, it was going to be difficult to know how many would be at those practices, because it was the week of the Middle School musical and 4 players on the roster had dress rehearsals and then their first performance on Friday night. However, the week ended up being VERY productive AND the musical was outstanding! (Did you know that the choreographer, Jessica Tasciotti, played field hockey for Eastridge?)
Stretching and warmup routines are improving. Everyone's stickwork is getting better and coming in handy for the more specific drills for each position. Rules are beginning to make more sense, and now strategies are being introduced for special situations. Players from the musical did come to early-in-the-week practices, and that helped their teammates prepare for the new lineup(s) for Thursday's home game.
The Hilton Cadets knew they would have just 13 eligible to play by Thursday and the Eastridge Lancers knew they would have only 13 available to play on Thursday, and so both coaches agreed to a 9 versus 9 game. It was going to be quite a challenge for so many players new to the game and only in their third contest and in different positions with a new variety of teammates. Both teams rose to the occasion despite both teams having just 11 players for the game. The Lancers got off to a quick start, even had 2 corners, and a just-wide shot by Nicole in Q1. Nicole found the net in Q2 to put the Lancers on the scoreboard and the Cadet goalie had to make a save just before halftime. Eastridge had a corner early in Q3, but it was Hilton that scored halfway through and made it 1-1. Before Q3 was over, Jada had found the net and put the Lancers ahead again. Hilton was adjusting to the quicker play on the turf (their home field/practice field is grass), got deeper into the Lancer territory more often, and tied it up just 3 minutes into the final quarter. There was plenty of time left and the pace of play noticeably ramped up. Emma Q's shot went wide left with 7 left, the Hilton goalie made a save with 5 minutes left, and the fans were treated (again) to an exciting back-and-forth 2-2 tie.
The team has 3 games and only 2 practices this week. Monday's away game at Brighton - Twelve Corners will be on grass, Wednesday's home game will be versus Webster-Spry with the team photo/individual pics taking place beforehand at 3PM at EHS as soon as the shuttle arrives, and Friday's away game will be at Basket Road versus Webster-Willink. The roster should be full again for another week of great hockey!
As always, please also check out Coach Fischer’s “All Lancer FH” Weekly Update on the home page of this website.
— Coach Adams
EIMS Modified FH Head Coach
NOTE: "The SCOOP" was originally handwritten and handed out to each player weekly by Coach Adams for many seasons.
Sunday, April 23, 2023
Hello EIMS Modified FH Players & Families,
At last, a full-field scrimmage against another team. The Fairport - Martha Brown team arrived at the Eastridge Stadium turf field on Wednesday with a young (mostly 7th grade) squad. Meanwhile, the Lancers were playing without five of their players who were practicing for the Middle School play next week AND more than half on the team were also new to the game. Despite the inexperience, our Lancers were on the attack for much of the first half, with three shots on goal in the first quarter and five shots in the second quarter. The 8th grade Fairport goalie made saves on all of them. In addition, the Lancers had four attack corners in the first quarter and another four in the second quarter. It was still 0-0 at half time. Fairport managed one shot on goal in the third quarter and two in the last quarter, but back-up Lancer goalie Isla made saves on all of them. Fairport had its one and only attack corner in the third. Meanwhile, our Lancers had no shots on goal in the third quarter, one shot in the fourth with a save, and another shot hard but just wide. The scrimmage ended in a 0-0 stalemate, and was a good way for all players on both teams to get started. The teams will face each other near the end of the season in a regulation game on the grass field at Martha Brown.
The first game of the season, which was also the first away game of the season, was played on Saturday afternoon on the turf field at Penfield High School. Two of the five Lancer players in the school play arrived in time for the game after their play practice, and so there were 15 Lancer players in the scorebook versus the two dozen for Bay Trail. The Lancers won the coin toss (actually, won the rock-paper-scissors game since the ref didn't have a coin) and elected to have the ball first to start the game. It was a hard diagonal self-start hit that got the ball deep into Penfield territory, and the Lancers were on the attack quickly. The pace of play was much quicker than the Wednesday scrimmage. The more experienced Bay Trail players were eventually able to get possession of the ball and to begin their attack, but each Lancer layer made it as difficult as possible for them to advance...and even when they did get by, there was someone who somehow managed to turn them away. It was still 0-0 at the end of Q1. Penfield needed to put in its entire second group. The pace of the first quarter had taken its toll on the Lancer starters; and it was a much different lineup than what had been prepared, and many of the younger players were being asked to play entirely new positions. Jada used her new opportunity as a forward in the second quarter to get the first Lancer goal of the season. Both teams had blended lineups for the second half, and the Lancer lineup continued to be much different than anticipated. Lancer goalie Brimari had MANY more shots to save. The many spectators in the stands were treated to a very exciting back-and-forth contest, with breakaways and a variety of dodges and shots just going wide. Momentum was growing for the home team as time wound down, but the Lancers were able to try some of the suggestions given during a quick timeout in quarter 4. The final whistle blew and the second quarter Lancer goal ended up being the only goal of the game, and it secured the first Lancer win for the season. What a week!
There will be just one game this coming week. It will be home against Hilton on Thursday. The school musical is this week and so those players will be missing. The weather will be dramatically different ALL week...low 50s (layer up!). We all wish our Lancers in the EIMS musical the very best this week. Once the musical is completed and those FH players return to our team, we will have 3 games next week, so we need to use THIS WEEK of practices to get ready for them as well as the Hilton game on Thursday. Players should check the TEAMS app daily AND reply.
As always, please also check out Coach Fischer’s “All Lancer FH” Weekly Update on the home page of this website.
— Coach Adams
EIMS Modified FH Head Coach
NOTE: "The SCOOP" was originally handwritten and handed out to each player weekly by Coach Adams for many seasons.
Sunday, April 16, 2023
Hello EIMS Modified FH Players & Families,
It was our first full week of practice and the first week at the High School, outside, on the Stadium turf. The weather cooperated as it was dry, sunny, and warm (very warm - remember to bring your own water container with your name on it)
Players have been catching the shuttle bus, and getting changed quickly and into a variety of formations for warmups and drills.
The roster number at this time is 19 players, and that number is almost twice the number in recent years and a good mix of seventh and eighth graders.
Our field hockey "vocabulary" is increasing daily, and I am impressed how well the players are beginning to grasp field hockey "concepts" during drills. Much can be learned by watching other teammates during the drills; so, watch and listen and start "seeing" what we are looking for. I have been looking at positions and am starting to figure various line-ups for the four quarters of play.
It is VERY important for EACH of you to reply to questions that are being asked on the TEAMS app (especially about attendance).
Uniforms will be issued at the END of practice tomorrow (Monday 4/17).
We are off to a good start! The Fairport - Martha Brown MS team will arrive at our Stadium turf this Wednesday 4/19 for a scrimmage. We will travel to Penfield High School for our first game this Saturday 4/22. It will be a great chance for all to see, and be IN, a real full-field game of field hockey. I can't wait!
As always, please also check out Coach Fischer’s “All Lancer FH” Weekly Update on the home page of this website.
— Coach Adams
EIMS Modified FH Head Coach
NOTE: "The SCOOP" was originally handwritten and handed out to each player weekly by Coach Adams for many seasons.
