Bucs Sail Home With Elusive Bayside Title

The Kent Island field hockey team kept their perfect season going Monday night after pulling out a thrilling 2-1 win over Pocomoke in the 2016 Bayside Championship game, thanks to a late goal from Abby Carpenter. The Bucs found a bit of redemption after falling to the Warriors in the 2015 Bayside Title game. The win improves the Buccaneers to 13-0, while the loss drops the Warriors to 8-7.

The teams would be in a battle early on. The Bucs would control the possession, generating a few good scoring opportunities. But every shot was turned back time and time again by some great saves from the Warriors keeper Dom Farrace. Her strong play would help the teams head into halftime tied 0-0. But Kent Island came out swinging in the second half.

Just four minutes into the half, the Bucs would be on a breakaway up the right side, send a cross into the circle that Celina Kaufman would fire home. That’s when the Warriors seem to come alive. Pocomoke would begin winning the possession and control the midfield. The momentum swing as the Warriors would draw a couple corners, before finally being able to capitalize. Mckenzie Mitchell would send a pass to Kasey Lee, who would rip a shot near post for the score to even up the match. The teams would go back and forth for the next 10 minutes and find themselves tied with under 5 minutes to play. That’s when Kent Island would draw a corner. The ball would be sent to Abby Carpenter, who would send a gorgeous shot to the upper left corner for the go-ahead score. Time would run out as Kent Island would hold on for the win.

Kent Island returns to work in the 2A State Tournament when they host Stephen Decatur on Thursday, while Pocomoke awaits the winner of Washington vs. Crisfield.