Oakton sophomore Maddie Rouse, right, scored two goals during the Cougars’ 5-1 victory over Osbourn Park on Monday. Photo by Craig Sterbutzel.
The Oakton field hockey team trailed early in its contest against Osbourn Park on Monday as the Yellow Jackets scored in the opening minutes.
As it turned out, a little adversity was all the Cougars needed to get going.
Oakton responded with a pair of first-half goals and added three in the second half during a 5-1 victory over Osbourn Park at the Under the Lights tournament at Lee High School.
Sophomore Maddie Rouse and junior Makenzie Brooks each scored a pair of goals for Oakton, and senior Sydney Applegate had one.
“I think it was almost good for [Osbourn Park] to score because it woke [the Cougars] up and made them realize they need to be ready as soon as they’re going into the game,” first-year Oakton head coach Allison Ryneski said. “I think they responded very well as we dominated pretty much the rest of the first half.”
Rouse’s goal with less than 19 minutes remaining in the first half tied the score at 1-all. Brooks scored with less than 15 minutes left in the opening half, giving the Cougars a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
“Definitely, that’s what we needed,” Oakton senior Jackie Toye said of Osbourn Park’s early goal. “Sometimes it just takes that mistake in order for us to get going again. From that point on, we seemed a lot more with it, our passes were better and we just overall played a lot better.”
Ryneski said Toye and senior Devon Thomas are two of Oakton’s top players.
“They know the game,” Ryneski said, “[and they] know where to put the ball.”
Oakton will travel to face Madison at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 3.