Hornets Fall to Gryphons on Greenhills' Natural Grass

A sluggish Saline Hornets field hockey team struggled on the grass at Ann Arbor Greenhills Monday.

A week after Saline battled Greenhills to a hard-fought 0-0 draw, the Hornets suffered a 2-0 loss.

The Hornets spent the early part of the first half pinned in their zone by the aggressive Gryphons’ attack.  Midway through the half, Saline was able to sustain pressure in the offensive zone. But With 9:24 to play in the half, Greenhills’ Sara Menzies scored for a 1-0 lead.

The Gryphons’ carried the lead into the break.

In the second half, the Gryphons continued to fluster the Hornets. Wherever the ball went, there seemed to be two Gryphons for each Hornet.

Saline managed a couple shots on goal, including one off of a penalty corner, but couldn’t mount a sustained attack. Greenhills made it 2-0 with 13:20 to play when Maeven Barry redirected Marissa Thompson’s shot past Saline goalie Jessie Opaleski.

Coach Don Hes said his team struggled on the natural grass.

“Our girls don’t play as well on grass. It’s an entirely different game,” Hes said. “But that said, I thought we were sluggish. We didn’t play as well as we could.”

Opaleski made a couple spectacular saves for the Hornets in the first half.

Saline hosts University Ligget at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.