SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Marina Montes-Nino and Kate Hollamby netted one goal each but it was not enough as the Converse (0-6, 0-3) field hockey team dropped a 4-2 decision to Coker (1-2, 1-0) on Saturday afternoon at Spartan High.
The initial 20-plus minutes of game action was an offensive draw as the two teams managed just six shots total, two on goal. However, Amelia Gajewski put the Cobras ahead with an unassisted goal in the 22nd minute of play.
Coker looked poised to take the one-score lead into the intermission, but with just over two minutes to play in the first half, Victoria Bailey found Montes-Nino in front of the goal, who blasted it into the back of the box for the equalizer.
It did not take long for the Valkyries to take the lead in the second half. Hollamby received a pass from Montes-Nino and stuffed it past the keeper three minutes into the second session, giving the Vals a 2-1 advantage.
That lead did not last long after Coker earned a free shot following a foul in the box with 20 minutes to play. Carla Deuble calmly stepped up and fired the ball into the goal, knotting the contest at 2-2. Gajewski put Coker back in front for good with her second and third goals of the contest in the 60th and 68th minutes, respectively.
Coker led the Valkyries 11-4 in shots, but Converse held a 9-5 advantage on penalty corners.
The Valkyries will be back in action on Monday, October 1 as they head to Newberry, S.C. to take on Lindenwood in a neutral site matchup. That contest is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.