Erin Shanahan powers Spalding field hockey to win over Arundel
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Version 0 of 1. For almost four years now, Erin Shanahan’s real estate has been shrinking. As the senior field hockey standout for Spalding has grown into an All-Met midfielder, with an oral commitment to Virginia and two trips to the USA Field Hockey Junior National Camp on her résumé, she has become only more conspicuous to defenders. On Monday night in Gambrills, Shanahan showed why she still can’t be stopped, leading the top-ranked Cavaliers to a 3-0 win at Arundel with one goal and two assists. Shanahan dribbled through the Wildcats’ legs, created her own striking lanes with long, lateral swipes into space and — when that didn’t work — bulled her way through the defense with her broad shoulders. “I’ve been working on tight stick skills so I could at least draw a foul or something to create space,” Shanahan said. “I do stick work a lot in the house, outside, everywhere.” While Shanahan created scoring chances, Spalding didn’t break through until late in the first half. Cavaliers Coach Leslee Brady was rubbing her temples until 5 minutes 13 seconds before the half, when senior Madison Zehring deflected a Shanahan shot into the goal from the right post. Shanahan scorched a hip-level lift shot from the elbow of the circle to put Spalding (9-0-1) up by two, converting senior Logan Edmondson’s insert on a corner play with 26:40 left to play. About 16 minutes later, Shanahan found sophomore Jenna Garden for a short goal in a scrum in front of the cage. “I think the growth that I’m seeing is not just that she’s improving her ball skills every single day,” Brady said of Shanahan. “When they put two or three girls on her, she can still get through that kind of traffic,” “But it’s when she is trying to get through that kind of traffic, and there may be some stick hacking or a foul, not only is she maintaining possession, but she’s maintaining her composure, and I think that’s where you see her maturity.” Arundel (3-4) had chances to match the barrage, particularly on fast breaks led by senior attack Skylar Grady, but the Wildcats could not convert on nine shots and eight corners. Senior goalie Erin Cresswell played well to the finish, but she couldn’t contain all 26 shots from Spalding. In one sequence in the final three minutes, Cresswell held her ground to save five consecutive Spalding strikes. “We were pounding their goalie,” Brady said. “She did an excellent job. I was very impressed.” Spalding has a short turnaround for a Tuesday makeup game against Notre Dame Prep. The Cavaliers won’t see another team in The Post’s coverage area until Oct. 16, when they travel to No. 6 Wootton. |