Page 146 - WHS FH 2014

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Field Hockey: The Fly is One of the Most

Dangerous and Rewarding Positions in Sports

By John Nash

Brien McMahon senior field hockey player Maddy Vineyard was seconds away from possible disaster, but the
thought never entered her mind. She wouldn't allow it -- couldn't allow it, really -- as she remained focused on
the task at hand. It was a penalty corner against Danbury on the afternoon of Sept. 24 and Vineyard -- playing
the fly position out of the Senators' defensive corner set -- had a job to do.

At the sound of the whistle, as the Hatters put the ball into play, Vineyard exploded out from the side of the goal
cage for the 16-yard sprint toward a Danbury player who was standing at the top of the circle, waiting for the
ball's arrival and a possible hard shot on goal. What happened next was over in seconds.

"I'm going to be honest with you," said Vineyard, reliving the moment almost a month later. "When I got close
to the ball, I kind of closed my eyes. I never saw it coming."
The Danbury player reared back and ripped a shot on goal, but during her follow-through the stick struck
Vineyard in the neck. The McMahon player dropped to the turf, just another fly falling victim to one of the most
dangerous jobs in sports.

"I was scared in the moment," said McMahon head coach Steph Fazio, who has played Division 1 field hockey
at Sacred Heart University and has seen her fair share of scary moments on the field. “It was a big backswing
and she hit the ground. But she’s really tough. Once I saw her pop up, I knew she was alright.” Despite the
danger, the fly's job is crucial to a team's defensive success. During a penalty corner, there are four defenders