P.O. Box 5
Afton, NY 13730
607.639.8200

QuickTime streaming video of the Field Hockey Team, 10MB

December 8, 2003

The National Field Hockey Coaches Association
named
Renee Kemmerer
to the
NFHCA North Region Team.

Congratulations Renee!

First Team All-Stars:

Renee Kemmerer
Brittany Sines
Chelsea Beames
Brittany Hulbert
Marie Loher

Second Team

Heather Sines
Amber Oefelein
Alicia Fico

from The Daily Star
Wednesday, October 29, 2003

Afton strokes way to field hockey victory in quarterfinals

By P.J. Harmer
Contributing Writer

ONEONTA — Afton's Renee Kemmerer found her stroke just in time Tuesday.

Despite being held scoreless in a Section Four Class C semifinal in field hockey, Kemmerer converted the third shot in a strokeoff at Oneonta State to help Afton beat Deposit. The two teams played to a 1-1 tie through regulation and two sudden-victory overtimes to set up the penalty-stroke session.

Kemmerer's penalty stroke to the lower-left corner gave second-seeded Afton a 3-0 cushion over No. 2 Deposit, which scored a late penalty stroke for the final margin.

"We practice strokes a lot," said Kemmerer, who followed successful conversions by Marie Loher and

Court Lynn. "For those two to put us ahead was great. I just went in and did it. I usually never have a plan; I just go to the same spot. I set the ball down and don't even think about it."

Afton goalie Amber Oefelein stopped two of four shots faced in the penalty-stroke session, diving to her left with a glove save for the first stop and clinching it with a high glove save on the Lumberjacks' fourth attempt.

"My heart was just out there," Oefelein said. "It's very nerve-racking. I'm surprised I did it."

Afton (15-3) will play top-seeded Marathon in the Section Four Class C championship Friday at Oneonta State. The time of the final, which is part of a Section Four triple-header, will be announced later this week.

Undefeated Marathon, the defending Class C state champion, beat fifth-seeded Walton in the other semifinal, 2-1.

Deposit (13-5) controlled much of the tempo in regulation and had several opportunities that were thwarted by Oefelein.

"They really out hustled us for the ball," Afton coach Jan Conover said. "We made some key moves on them, but they really were hustling."

Even with the chances, Deposit found itself down, 1-0, with 9 minutes and 25 seconds to play in the first half. Kemmerer sent a through ball to Brit Halbert at midfield. Halbert took the pass and sneaked between two Deposit defenders for a breakaway.

Halbert, a freshman, ran about 40 yards and took a shot that hit Deposit goalie Aimee VanLuvender and bounced in.

Deposit tied the score less than three minutes into the second half. Danielle Conklin's liner was deflected and sailed into the net over Oefelein with 27:53 to play.

"It was an awesome game," Deposit coach Heather Conklin said. "Everyone played 120 percent. My offense and defense played very well. We just couldn't connect with that second goal."

Kemmerer had several chances toward the end of regulation and in overtime to give Afton the victory, but her power shots off corners couldn't get past VanLuvender or just missed wide.

"We had a lot of chances," Kemmerer said. "We were swinging at the ball. Their defense was great and their goalie diving was for balls. She did a great job.

"We just have to have to work on getting the shot off a little quicker."

AFTON 1, DEPOSIT 1
Section Four Class C semifinal at Oneonta State

Afton wins in penalty strokes, 3-1

3-Deposit 0 1 — 1
2-Afton 1 0 — 1

Deposit (13-5): Danielle Conklin 1-0.
Afton (15-3): Brit Halbert 1-0.
Shots-corners: Deposit 7-10; Afton 16-12.
Goalies: Aimee VanLuvender (D) 13; Amber Oefelein (A) 6.
Penalty corners: Afton — Marie Loher, Court Lynn, Renee Kemmerer. Deposit — Lacey Andresen.