The Rachel Baker Field by Manual’s YPAS Annex sports a freshly painted crimson “M,” over which varsity field hockey teams were buzzing about on Thursday night before Manual’s game against Presentation in the Stick-It-to-Cancer Tournament. Goalie Dakota Elzy (#94,10), adorned in a cerulean jersey complete with neon orange goalie pads, fended off practice flicks during warm-ups, while music filtered through the air as the crowd filed in and found their seats in the bleachers.

The game placed the two schools against each other for the next round of match-ups in the tournament.

“This is the first year of the Stick-It-to-Cancer Tournament,” said Nan Dryden, mother of varsity player Anna Dryden (#35 , 12). “Public and private schools are both involved and we play at different schools throughout Louisville. We don’t charge admission, but we have a table set out so people can make donations to cancer research,” she said.

Money raised is donated to the National Foundation for Cancer Research, and so far Manual has raised $688 of its $1,000 goal.

The girls’ team was determined to accomplish all of its goals, including winning the tournament. But first the players had to beat Presentation.”They’re definitely a solid team,” said Brigette Schuman (10), a junior varsity player for the Lady Crimson field hockey team who came to support the varsity players. “But if we win, we advance to the finals,” she said.

Hayley Barker (10) set the pace with a goal to take the lead early in the first half. Both teams scored soon after, but Catherine Jennings (#38, 12) made a noteworthy defensive play to keep the game tied at 2-2 to end the first half.

Once play resumed, Katharyn Hovious (#22, 11) scored two minutes into the second half to give Manual a 3-2 lead. Elzy made a save but suffered an unknown injury and exited the game with twenty minutes left in the half. Manual managed to hold off Presentation until five minutes and thirty seconds remained, when Presentation scored to tie and end the game at 3-3.

The tournament was set with “pool play” rules, where two separate pools (A and B) played against teams within their own pool, earning a designated amount of points for wins, losses, and ties. Once the teams within each pool had played each other, the team with the most points from pool A would face off the team with the most points from pool B in the final match. Because Manual had tied Presentation, their advancement to the finals depended on the outcome of the Ballard-North Oldham game. If Ballard was defeated, Manual would have the most points in the pool and advance to the finals. Ballard, however, won the game, and Manual was out of the tournament.

Overall, Manual ended the tournament with a record of 1-1-1, including a loss to Ballard, a win over North Oldham and a tie against Presentation. “I think yesterday was really the first time we pushed through as a team, because before we played more as individual players,” said Kelsi White (#19, 11). ”Our teams were pretty equal, so Manual had to push a little harder in order to really compete and do well. I think that showed us that in the future we can play harder and achieve our goals if we depend on each other,” she said.

Kelsi White (#19, 11) practices passing with teammates during warm-ups before the Presentation-Manual game of the Stick-It-To-Cancer Tournament on Thursday, August 18, at Rachel Baker Field. Photo by Seth Fischer

The Boys' Lacrosse team showcases their school spirit by building a 10-man pyramid during halftime. Donovan Pimentel (12, far right) orchestrates the last of the pyramid's construction. "Originally, the pyramid was our coach's idea, but we took it and expanded it," he said. Pimentel says the boys' support stems from an effort to build a "friendship" between the field hockey and lacrosse teams to increase the teams' support of each other. Photo by Seth Fischer