Schools
Valianti's Four Goals Lead Field Hockey to Win
Panthers' senior has career day during win over Holy Cross.
Collingswood used a career-high four goals from senior Krystal Valianti to power past Holy Cross 4-0 in a non-conference match on Tuesday.
Valianti scored her first goal five minutes into the match, and although she was far from finished, her single goal was all the team would need Tuesday afternoon.
“We came out and started pretty strong,” Panthers head coach Val Dayton said. “That’s something we always look to do, so it was good for us.”
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Valianti would score again before the half ended, giving Collingswood a 2-0 lead at the break.
After halftime, Panthers came out looking lethargic. But a timeout 10 minutes into the half helped turn things around.
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Valianti scored again five minutes later, using a spin move and getting by a defender and beating the keeper—giving her the hat trick.
“We kind of hit a lull there for a little bit,” Dayton said. “But usually the girls respond to timeouts, and that was no different today.”
Valianti took her fourth goal of the day with only five minutes left in the game.
“She was the superstar today,” said Dayton, beaming.
Tuesday was the first in a series of warm-up games for the Panthers as they prepare for next week’s state tournament. And Collingswood picked Tuesday's game up at the last minute.
Panthers were supposed to take on Gloucester City, while Holy Cross was originally scheduled against Cherokee. But both Gloucester and Cherokee cancelled, and the two teams were able to arrange a game.
“At this point in the season, I think it's better for us to play against another team than practice against each other,” Dayton said. “I worry a little because we have some injuries, but I just think that if we’re going to see a Bishop Eustace or a Camden Catholic, we have to raise the level of play. These games help us do that.”
Panthers wrap-up regular season with games against quality opponents. They'll travel to St. Joesph's in Hammonton on Friday and host Washington Twp. on Saturday.
St. Joseph's is ranked number 10 in the latest edition of the Courier-Post's Top 10, while Washington Twp. is ranked number three. sits at number nine in that poll.
Panthers’ stellar regular season play earned them the number two seed in the NJISSA Central Jersey Group II Bracket. They'll take on the winner of Ewing vs. Pemberton on Wednesday, Nov. 2.
