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Hickory's Ali McNaught (No. 8) steps over Lakeland's Kaity Byrum. Photo by Tris Wykes/HRVarsity

Field Hockey: Lakeland Hands Hickory A 6-0 Loss

By TRIS WYKES | twykes@hrvarsity.com

SUFFOLK -- The big game was a big bust Wednesday, as Lakeland High’s field hockey team proved its Southeastern District brethren still have a long way to go before they unseat the seven-time defending champs.

The Cavaliers ripped visiting Hickory, 6-0, leading by three goals at halftime and building a 20-2 shot advantage. The Hawks had entered hoping to seriously challenge for the district title, but didn’t nearly live up to coach Hannah Jones’ expectations.

``They were quicker getting to the ball, they were in better shape than us and we played sloppy,’’ said Jones, who played at Lakeland in her own school days. ``My girls just stood back and watched and we need to work on that before we have our next hard game, which is Western Branch in two weeks.’’

Kaity Byrum, Jones’ younger sister, opened the scoring in the 10th minute, blasting a low stroke past Hickory goalkeeper Molly Morneault. Lindsay Cutchins made it 2-0 two minutes later and Courtney Parmeter pushed the advantage to 3-0 seconds before halftime.

Alyssa Chirico, Ashby Stancill and Kelsey Smither scored in the second half.

``I think we were mentally prepared and when we first started, we played well,’’ Jones said. ``But by the third goal, we just went downhill from there. We’re going to run a lot tomorrow and we’ll shoot for second place from here on.’’

The Lakeland trio of Byrum, Courtney Parmeter and Lindsay Cutchins led Lakeland through what could have been a dribbling and passing exhibition. Whereas the Hawks were often reduced to desperate whacks at the ball in hopes of penetrating Lakeland’s side of the field, the Cavaliers swooped and maneuvered their way about the Hickory end.

``We played well and made some very good connections in front of the goal and scored some very good goals,’’ said Lakeland coach Tara Worley, whose team improved to 9-1 overall and 5-0 in district play.

``I think we were mentally prepared and when we first started, we played well,’’ Jones said. ``But by the third goal, we just went downhill from there. We’re going to run a lot tomorrow and we’ll shoot for second place from here on.’’

Parmeter and Cutchins will aim to lead Lakeland deep into the playoffs before taking their skills to James Madison University, where each will be on scholarship next season.

``Lindsay’s been playing since she was in sixth grade and she’s grown into a physical, phenomenal athlete,’’ Worley said of a player who will be joining older sister Kelsey, JMU’s goalkeeper and a member of the U.S. under 21 national team. ``She looks like a first-year college player and she has a really hard shot that we’re working on her getting off a little quicker.’’

Worley laughed when asked about Parmeter, recalling the link player’s struggles on the pitch as an eighth-grader.

``I wish people could have seen her then and now, because you would not believe it’s the same person,’’ the coach said. ``She’s smooth and controlled with great footwork and great speed. She has great vision and she’s doing it all at one of the toughest positions on the field.’’

Lakeland doesn’t figure to have many tough games left in the regular season, but one will come next Friday when it faces Kecoughtan in a ``home’’ game at Virginia Beach’s National Field Hockey Center.