Foxcroft School: Field Hockey and Tennis Both Advance to State Semifinals

(Nov. 7, 2012) - Foxcroft School's field hockey and tennis teams BOTH advanced to the semifinals of the Virginia Independent School Athletic Association Division II Tournament Tuesday with comfortable victories in their first-round matches. Neither team had won a state match in at least seven years.


Freshman Alex Grace had a goal and an assist to lead field hockey, ranked second in the state, to a 3-0 shutout of #7 Williamsburg Christian. In tennis, third-seeeded Foxcroft swept five of six singles matches to defeat sixth-ranked Norfolk Christian, 7-1. Both teams will play semifinals Friday. Field hockey takes on either Hampton Roads Academy or North Cross School at the National Training Center in Virginia Beach, with the winner advancing to Saturday's Championship Game.

Foxcroft field hockey led, 1-0 at the half on a goal by junior All-Conference selection Lilly MacDonald of Bluemont, VA, put Foxcroft field hockey on the board with a goal in the first half. Grace, a Purcellville resident, set up a goal by senior forward Catherine Reynolds (Middleburg) early in the seoncd half and then scored , on a pass from three-time All-Conference pick Olivia Jane Johnson (Rectortown), in the waning minutes. All-conference goaltended Alicia Holz (delaplane) made three saves.

In tennis, senior captain Mary Marshall Pierce (Middleburg), junior Kelly Buckland (Alexandria), and freshmen Annie Mickum (The Plains), Marina Shallcross (Upperville), and Linda Yang (Beijing, China) all won their single matches, with Yang's 11-9 nail-biter clinching the victory. Second and third doubles teams also won before the match was called.