I stopped by a couple of field hockey games yesterday that featured Top 10 teams and what struck me the most was the superb goalie play by all four keepers.

Sure there were terrific offensive plays, but in each game, the goalies made a handful of highlight-reel stops and kept their teams in the games. The goals that were scored were near perfect – shots the goalies had little or no chance at.

At No. 1 Garrison Forest’s 2-0 win over No. 10 St. Mary’s in Annapolis, Saints goalie Lyndsey Munoz made several diving stops and fought off the Grizzlies off the goal line at least three times in making 17 saves. Garrison’s Emily Cain didn’t face as much action, but she made a terrific split save in the second half and had some other fine stops among her six saves.

In the nightcap at Broadneck, the No. 3 Bruins got a fine effort from Maddie Koch, including an aggressive play in overtime to upset a fast break and give her team a chance to finally edge No. 4 South River, 2-1, in double overtime. She made six saves in the game and her counterpart, South River’s Emily Melanson, had some equally impressive stops among her four saves. She forced the game into overtime with a diving stop late in the second half.

All four of these goalies were fearless, aggressive and exceptionally agile with lightening quick recovery. And they aren’t the only ones like this. They have plenty of company in their peers on many of the area’s other top teams.

In local field hockey, this may be the year of the goalie. So might next year. All four of these goalies are juniors.

- Katherine Dunn