Elliott, Valkyries shut out Assumption in tournament finals

Field hockey victories don't fall far from the tree at Sacred Heart Academy, especially when it comes to the team's host tournament, the Apple Invitational.

And on Sunday, behind a smothering performance by SHA goalkeeper Maddi Elliott, the Valkyries defeated rival Assumption High School 3-0 in the Apple championship game and won the tournament title for the eighth consecutive year.

Sacred Heart has now won the Apple Tournament title 16 times since the event came to fruition in 1973. SHA Head Coach Liz Lewis was asked after her squad's victory if winning this long-running tourney ever gets old.

"Never," said a smiling Lewis. "It feels great every single year and it never gets old. It's different every year. It's exciting for our kids. It's exciting for fans."

After a rare, one-on-one penalty shot by SHA's Kristin Matula was deflected by Assumpiton goalkeeper Sara Nicholas and knocked away off the left post early in the first half, the Valkyries' Katherine English gave her team the lead by scoring what would eventually be the game-winning goal off a corner at the 20:38 mark.

That lead would hold until halftime, but SHA added to its advantage in the second half on a nifty goal and assist from Lindsay Smith and Hadleigh Frank with 19:08 to go in the game. Less than five minutes later, Casey Vidal slapped home one last goal for SHA and provided the final offensive tally for Lewis' team.

The opposing Rockets pressed hard throughout the contest and seemed to come close on several occasions, but Assumption went 0-for-7 on corner attempts and simply could not convert persistence into results.

"Assumption fought so hard and I thought they dominated for a large portion of the game," said Lewis. "They have nothing to hang their head about. We just fought and fought and fought, and just got a couple of goals there that were key. Our kids just really hung in there and I'm very, very proud of them."

Lewis attested her team's success on Sunday to Sacred Heart's defense, specifically her goalie (Elliott) who finished the championship game with 16 hard-earned saves.

"Maddi Elliott was tremendous," said an emphatic Lewis. "Our defense really hung in there when Assumption was tenacious in the corners. But Maddi was just phenomenal."

The victory was Sacred Heart's third win of the weekend and the Apple Tournament kicks off a healthy field hockey schedule for the Valkyries the rest of the way.

"We break down the season into segments because it's so long, so this was the first segment," said Lewis. "So to beat a team and a coach the caliber of Assumption's is a tremendous way for us to start."

The 2011 Apple Tournament All-Tournament team was also named following the championship game. The honorees were Katherine English (Sacred Heart), Kristin Matula (Sacred Heart), Maddi Elliott (Sacred Heart), Hadleigh Frank (Sacred Heart), Hannah Doll (Assumption), Kayla Barry (Assumption), Erin Mays (Assumption), Andrea Mattingly (Mercy), Anna Cowley (Presentation), Kim Perkins (Forsyth Country Day; NC), Teal Harrison (Columbus School for Girls; OH).

The Apple Tournament, which was celebrating its 39th year this weekend, was started for and named after Constance Applebee - the woman known for introducing field hockey to the United States in 1901.  Born in Chigwell, Essex, United Kingdom, Applebee came to America in 1896. She founded the American Field Hockey Association in 1901, and headed it for 20 years.

Applebee was also the head editor of Sportswoman, a magazine designed for women athletes. She was more commonly known by her nickname, "The Apple", and died at the age of 107 in 1981.

Consolation Game

Presentation Academy got a pair of goals from Bailey Reeder and defeated Mercy Academy 4-1 in the Apple Tournament's consolation game on Sunday afternoon. Olivia Wagner and Peyton Andres also notched goals in the victory.

The Jaguars' lone goal was scored by Laura Ford in the losing effort.

For photo galleries from the 2011 Apple Tournament, visit the official LouisvilleCatholicSports.com Facebook page here.