First-year West Springfield field hockey head coach Tina Nham, right, and sophomore Marie Laverdiere are seen during the Under the Lights tournament at Lee High School. Photo by Craig Sterbutzel.
The West Springfield field hockey team defeated South Lakes 3-1 on Tuesday night to finish the Under the Lights tournament at Lee High School with a 2-1-1 record.
The Spartans dropped their opener to Robinson, 2-1, on Monday, and followed with a 1-all tie against Centreville. The following day, West Springfield defeated Stuart, 6-0, and South Lakes.
“Our first game, we started off a little shaky playing on grass, not our usual turf,” senior captain Brittan Muir said after the Spartans defeated Stuart. “As we went on through the games, we’ve incorporated a lot more skills working together, communicating and we’ve really worked on … playing with each other.”
Muir, who is committed to Christopher Newport University, led West Springfield with three goals during the tournament.
“She’s another coach on the field,” first-year head coach Tina Nham said of Muir. “She really does direct the entire team and the girls really respect her. She’s, skill-wise, our best player. … She’s able to tell the girls where to go and be positioned. For this year, [she’s] what we need, someone that’s on the field being a coach.”
Sophomore Marie Laverdiere and junior Carolyn Rouse each scored two goals for the Spartans. Devon Nelson, a junior, and Brittlan Scott, a senior, each scored one.
West Springfield will travel to face Herndon at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29.