'I think we’re finally ready to take on the division and make a name for ourselves,' Spring Grove head coach Julia Baer on the Rockets 2023 goals

Spring Grove field hockey has big plans for this season.

Just ask Kyleigh Hinson. 

“County champs,” she stated. “And I believe we can get there.” 

The Rockets started their season off Tuesday with an 8-0 shutout over Northeastern. But it took them almost 11 minutes into the first quarter to find the cage. 

“We didn’t start off strong,” Hinson said. “Our coach called a timeout, and we fixed our act.” 

Hinson scored the first goal of the game with a powerful reverse from the top of the circle a minute after the timeout called by head coach Julia Baer. 

Since each team only gets one time out, calling it is “always a lot of pressure,” Baer said. 

“I usually turn to my assistants to ask if it’s too early,” she said. “We came out a little slow, a little flat. I think we came in a little cocky and unfortunately, that led us to playing a little lackadaisically. But we regrouped at our timeout.” 

Kendall Smith, who scored the Rockets’ third and eighth goals, repeatedly controlled the right sideline with her speed and rapid stick skills. 

“[Speed] helped get around some players, and then if not, I just passed the ball to my teammates to give them a chance,” Smith said. 

Smith’s crosses into the circle earned the Rockets many scoring opportunities, including the shot that led to Hinson’s third goal of the game, completing her hat trick. 

“Last year I only had one [goal], and then I get three in a game,” Hinson said. “It’s something to get used to, and I’ll be getting used to it.” 

On the other end of the field, Northeastern’s forwards had several quick breakaways.

But Spring Grove’s defense only allowed two Bobcat shots on cage. 

“We are working on building a culture and building up fundamentals,” Bobcats head coach Kenidy Kubitz said. 

In her second season as the head coach, she wants her players to focus on the “little things” like “block tackles,” “swinging the ball,” and “hockey IQ.” On offensive fast breaks, Kubitz said her girls need to “know what to do with the ball.” 

“In practice, they do it all day long,” she said. “We just try and run through, ‘Okay if the ball goes here, where do we go?’ We just need to be able to play people and start to see those lanes naturally.” 

The Rockets also drew nine corners but couldn’t convert against Northeastern’s defense.

Spring Grove even ended the game with an offensive corner. However, time expired and it wasn’t played out. The Rockets goal for the season is to take it “one game at a time,” Baer said. 

“This is a really good group of girls,” she said. “I think we’re finally ready to take on the division and make a name for ourselves. This is my fourth year as head coach, so we’re through the rebuild and into building confidence and focusing on those things. Hopefully counties, hopefully districts, but we’re taking it one game at a time right now.” 

Spring Grove and Northeastern both play in the Pennsylvania District 3 YAIAA conference. The Rockets are in Class AA and the Bobcats are in Class AAA. 

Photo: Bob Benscoter, August 28, 2023