Field Hockey News

By: Bob Orkwis

For the second straight game, North Allegheny fell behind early. But unlike the Mt. Lebanon game, the Tigers rallied this time, posting a 3-1 victory over the defending 2A champion Fox Chapel at Newman Stadium.

Junior Alice McLelland found a rebound in the game’s opening minute shortly after the center pass; her goal just 28 seconds into the contest gave the Foxes a 1-0 lead. But the Tigers’ defense and goalie Sydney Bragunier turned stingy and did not allow another goal the rest of the night. Bragunier finished with 7 saves to pick up the win.

North Allegheny was excellent on penalty corners in the game, converting all three goals directly or on a continuation of their ten corners.

With just under four minutes remaining in the first quarter, the Tigers tied the game. Off a corner, Kaylee Volk found Reagan Hall in front, and Hall backhanded a shot home for a 1-1 tie.

Gia Gross put North Allegheny in front to stay at 14:05 of the third quarter. Addison Burns fumbled the insert of a corner but stayed on the ball and retrieved it on the right wing. Her pass into the circle bounced around and eventually led to Gross picking up a rebound to score her sixth goal of the season to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.

Burns ended up with a true assist on the Tigers’ final goal. Working the extended corner, she got the ball in front and Volk scored her fifth goal of the year halfway through the fourth quarter for a 3-1 North Allegheny lead.

The Tigers improved to 4-4-1 with the non-conference win. Hall was solid in the midfield and all over the field, and her third goal of the season was enough to earn the junior the Wright Automotive Player of the Game.

North Allegheny visits Hempfield tomorrow night as they return to conference play. The Tigers have registered two victories against defending WPIAL champions, with a huge rematch coming on Thursday against seven-time 3A champion Pine-Richland, whom they defeated earlier
in the year on the road. Thursday’s game will start at 7:00 and can be heard on the North Allegheny Sports Network.

FIELD HOCKEY SUMMARY VS. FOX CHAPEL, 9-28-26

SCORE BY QUARTERS	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	FINAL
Fox Chapel	1	0	0	0	1
North Allegheny	1	0	1	1	3