SPEAR ON POINT
GOALIE CARRIED ON COX’S STORIED LEGACY WITH STELLAR SEASON
VIRGINIA BEACH — Abby Spear knows all about legacy.
Like many players on Cox’s field hockey team, Spear, the 2021 All-Tidewater Field Hockey Player of the Year, has been immersed in the Falcons’ program for years.
Her older sister, Sarah, won three state championships with the Falcons, two of them alongside Abby, and their younger sister, Megan, has become a pivotal cog for the Falcons in her two seasons with the team.
Playing a role in Cox field hockey history is an honor, but it can also be daunting.
“I definitely struggled in terms of the beginning of the season, like how I wanted to finish out,” said Spear, who is headed to Duke in the fall. “There was so much pressure on us to win the four state titles and finish out strong, all of that.
“I personally went from this pressured, stressed-out player who had more focus on what others expected her to do rather than what I wanted to do, to someone who just went out and played for my team.”
This season, Spear backstopped the Falcons to a second straight undefeated, state championship year, allowing just three goals in 20 games with 17 shutouts. During that run, the Falcons’ defense blanked plenty of formidable foes, including Norfolk Academy and First Colonial.
In the postseason, Spear raised the level of her game, allowing no goals in the region and state tournaments.
In addition to her substantial contributions on the field, Spear, one of the team’s senior captains, was an equally crucial figure off the field.
Cox coach Taylor Rountree called Spear the team’s “comforter” as they gathered again after missing out on the 2020 fall season due to COVID.
“At home during those months, it was tough on everyone’s mental health,” Rountree said. “This team healed and grew together when we could come together. … They challenged each other every day during practice and with respect and love for each other really grew into a very special team this season.”
This season and this state title, the 23rd in Cox’s storied history, was especially sweet for Spear,
who called it “an era of growth.”
“I learned more about what it meant to be a leader, a teammate and a player all at once this year,” she said. “We all went through a lot of hard things. COVID brought a lot of hard things, coming back to school brought a lot of hard things, and this year just taught me a lot about compassion and understanding.
“It’s only the beginning. I can’t wait to see what comes next, but this season was one of my favorites, if not my favorite. It was just really special.”