Kozemchak’s first career goal sparks Steinert

HAMILTON >> Natalie Kozemchak, a senior Steinert midfielder, picked the perfect day to score her first career goal.

It was Senior Day and Breast Cancer Awareness Day and it was also a Mercer County Tournament game.

“It was awesome,” said Kozemchak, of goal that sparked the No. 16 seeded Spartans to a 3-0 MCT play-in game with township rival, No. 17 Nottingham on a balmy Monday afternoon on the grass at Steinert.

“It’s even more special that it came on senior day,” added Kozemchak. “This will be my last time playing field hockey when this season ends. It was great to have all my friends, the other seniors and the underclassmen, here to share it with me.”

Kozemchak is one of 14 seniors on the Spartans roster and it was only fitting the other two goals also came from seniors as Madison Everett and Logan VanNosdall also found the back of the cage.

The Spartans got assists from senior Madison Salzano, Nicole Mioduszewski and junior Bella Trulove. Gianna Casale, another junior, was solid in the cage.

“The win is a one that can give us a little bout of confidence,” said Steinert coach Lorraine Heisler. “We had good energy coming in and we stayed in the zone. We got a lot of good corners and that means we are making the ball move in the circle.”

The win sends the Spartans (3-11) to a Friday matchup with most likely No.1 seeded and three-time defending champion, Lawrenceville.

Should No. 18 Ewing pull off the win at No. 15 Hun on Tuesday then the Spartans would face No. 2 Lawrence in the first round.

Nottingham made some decent runs at the cage behind the play of Cynthia Bosquet, Ella Kinloch and Alyssa Angelucci. Kya Wallace picked up six saves in the goal for the Northstars (2-11).

“It always tough when you get down early like we did,” said Nottingham’s first year coach Jessie Mull. “It tough to comeback. It we had been able to score first maybe things would have been different. We are a young team and we have some things to learn and we are going to continue to grow.”

Two of the Spartans three goals came via a penalty corner as they attempted nine in the game.

Kozemchak took the insert and got back in front of the cage in time to push Salzano’s assist to the backboard for a 1-0 need with 11:32 left in the initial period.

“We aren’t really used to winning very much so to get a win in the county tournament is really special,” said Kozemchak. “Now, we always have a chance to continue to play.”

It wasn’t just a win, a goal and Senior Day that made it special for Kozemchak.

“Raising money for breast cancer is such a good cause,” said Kozemchak. “It’s important to raise awareness.”

Nottingham (2-11) 0 0 — 0 Steinert (3-10) 2 1 — 3

Goals: S: Kozemchak, Everett, VanNosdall. Assists: S: Salzano, Truelove, Mioduszewski. Shots: N: 3. S: 9. Saves: N: Wallace 6, S: Casale 3.