*Look below for video highlights of Osbourn Park’s victory over Forest Park and check back later tonight for the full story.
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By Paul Frommelt
DigitalSports.com
Content Manager — Prince William County
pfrommelt@digitalsports.com
Jessica Lowman’s first goal as a field hockey player wasn’t necessarily a power shot that dented the back of the cage. Lowman even admitted that she was surprised it found its way into the goal. But there is no denying what the first-year player’s goal meant for Osbourn Park.
“This is our turning point here,” said Osbourn Park head coach Kate Thomas. “I really felt that after that first goal… there was this confidence – something new on the field.”
Lowman’s goal ended up being the Yellow Jacket’s game-winner in their 2-0 victory over Forest Park and secured Osbourn Park’s first victory on the young season.
“[I was suprised] mostly because it was not my strongest hit, but I was happy,” said Lowman after the game. “It feels really good.”
Lowman’s goal midway through the second half broke a scoreless struggle in which the Bruins looked to have the upper hand. Forest Park controlled the momentum throughout the first half, pressuring Osbourn Park goaltender Jackie Moore and the Yellow Jackets’ defense. Moore held her ground, however, deflecting anything that came her way, including a penalty shot midway through the first half.
“I was a little nervous, but I just took a deep breath and it was okay,” said Moore of the penalty shot save. “I got it.”
After a tough 1-0 loss to Fauquier on Monday night, Thomas called a team meeting on Wednesday night.
“We have been struggling in our first couple of games,” she said. “We put some things together.”
With that meeting still fresh in their mind, the Yellow Jackets came out in the second half on a mission. The momentum changed almost immediately.
“This is a team with a lot of heart,” said Thomas whose squad applied even more pressure to the reeling Bruins after Lowman’s goal broke the tie. “We weren’t letting up, we were going to go for as many as we could.”
If Lowman’s goal started a second chapter for the Yellow Jackets this season, Whitney Thomas’s goal gave it an exclamation point.
With time running down in the game, Thomas received a corner pass, manuevered past a Forest Park defender and rocketed the ball into the back of the cage.
The win improved the Yellow Jackets’ record to 1-2 on the season, with important district matches against Battlefield and Liberty next week.
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