Field Hockey: Frient cashes in to lead Dublin Coffman by Olentangy Orange
Wednesday, September 20, 2023
By Michael Rich
mrich@cbussports.com
Olentangy Orange’s Megan Shrader (left) and Dublin Coffman’s Maddy Fry go for the ball Sept. 20 at Coffman. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Claire Frient sees field hockey as an escape from the pressures of everyday life. It’s also a place where she can get out some aggression.
The senior attacker has parlayed that aggression into goals, leading Dublin Coffman with 11.
Frient’s goal just over 2 minutes into the game was all the host the host Shamrocks needed in a 1-0 victory over Olentangy Orange in Central Ohio Field Hockey League West Division play on Sept. 20.
“I’m just a really aggressive player,” she said. “I really love field hockey. I like to play when I’m stressed. It just makes me happy. If I’m having a bad day, I just whack a field hockey ball.”
Sydney Dues crossed a ball from the right that pinballed through a host of players in front of the cage before Frient found it on the left post.
Olentangy Orange’s Emma Berard (left) and Dublin Coffman’s Kate Straka battle Sept. 20 at Coffman. Photo: John Hulkenberg
She touched it in to give the Rocks, who improved to 10-2 overall and 3-2 in league play, the lead with 12:43 remaining in the opening period.
“(Frient is) very fast and she has a nose for the ball,” Coffman coach Dirk Dunbar said. “She plays pretty aggressive. She got a couple of cards tonight. But you can’t take that intensity out of a player. (We) want her to play hard.”
Coffman, ranked seventh in the latest state poll, which was released before action began on Sept. 18. controlled much of the game. The Rocks held a 16-1 edge in shots, but were 0-for-10 on penalty corners.
“(Orange had) probably one of the best defensive efforts by a team we’ve faced this year,” Dunbar said. “We struggled getting the ball through them and that’s a credit to them that they played that well. We had some opportunities to score two or three (goals) in the first quarter, but we didn’t.”
Dublin Coffman’s Faye Mossman (left) and Olentangy Orange’s Maggie Myers compete Sept. 20 at Coffman. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Lillian Martin had three saves for the Pioneers, who are the midst of the meat of their schedule. Ninth-ranked Orange, which fell to 7-2 overall and 3-1 in the league, won its first seven games before falling to Bexley 3-2 on Sept. 18.
Led by forwards Megan Shrader (10 goals) and Ava Hanna (8 goals), the Pioneers have matchups with top-ranked Thomas Worthington (away Sept. 27) and third-ranked Upper Arlington (away Oct. 2) over the next couple of weeks.
“(We) need to come out and play the way we know they’re capable of from beginning to end,” Orange coach Olivia Susi said. “Anyone is beatable this season. I don’t care who the names are, (we) can do it. (Our players) need to believe that.”