The Burr and Burton field hockey continues the tough early season schedule Sport

MANCHESTER Burr and Burton’s field hockey has been battle-tested during the first three games of the season.

The Bulldogs started their season on the road against second in the 2020 division of Champlain Valley and lost the race 3-0. They followed it with a quality 3-1 win over the strong Windsor team.

The schedule was not eased on Tuesday as the Queensbury team responded with a strong defense. Queesnbury defeated the Bulldogs 3-1 in a game where both defenses shone.

The undefeated first quarter favored the Spartans because they held a shot advantage and possession time. The Bulldogs even recorded their first game before the 1:30 mark in the first quarter.

Queensbury broke the scoring dryness with 10 minutes and 50 seconds left in the first half. A group of Spartans congested from the front corner of the cage. The battle for possession was ultimately won by Queensbury, who sneaked behind its cage for a 1-0 advantage.

The guests added a new goal four minutes later. BBA goalkeeper Mac Thuermer stopped the first and second shots and kicked the ball out of the cage. Queesnbury remained tenacious, and after Thuermer was slightly pulled out of the cage, the rebound found a Spartan stick that changed the goal.

The Bulldogs will drop 1-2 at the start of the season, but coach Barb Miceli believes playing for quality teams will prove more beneficial to his team rather than earning points for sowing purposes.

Ultimately, it’s more important to play tough teams because it improves us, Miceli said. The improvement I saw from the first half to the second half, and the mental perseverance they had to persevere and continue, and that I think the other half is worth it.

The Bulldogs found their first career with four minutes left in the second quarter. Until then, they only recorded one shot. The BBA detonated four shots in a single possession to earn the first corner of the game during that period.

Campbell Snow, who guarded the Spartan cage, remained stable and kept the BBA off the board for the time being. Snow won five fights.

This momentum continued into the second half. With three minutes left, Lili Zens started a quick break from the center of the field. It was one of the Bulldogs ’better attacking opportunities in the match. The Spartan eventually interrupted the break, but the BBA got a corner.

The Spartans quickly dropped the goal and removed the ball from the cage.

The Queensburys attack continued to put pressure on Theurmer from time to time. With less than 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter, the BBA goalkeeper blocked the kick. Queensburys Alessia Simone was involved in the match and scored a 3-0 lead.

Thuermer was busy all afternoon, with 19 fights in the loss.

Bailey Gillam and Jenna Parker played strongly in their defense against the Bulldogs. Miceli praised the energy brought by both defenders on Tuesday.

The BBA never stopped and 5:14 left that toughness led to points. Katie Crabtree found the back of the Bulldogs cage and made it 3-1.

That would be the end result. Queensbury looked to have a great opportunity to score the fourth goal from the corner, but Perrin Marion came from the right side and struck a fine shot past the away team’s goalkeeper.

The BBA will return to play on Saturday as it hosts St. Johnsbury at 3 p.m.