Widely popular with its debut last fall, the Northern Virginia Senior Salute girls high-school field hockey event is set to return for a second year on Sunday, Nov. 19 at a different venue.
The day-long competition, with a youth clinic and four high-school games, will be at the St. James indoor facility in Springfield from 2:45 to 8 p.m. A clinic for girls in grades 3 through 8 that is sponsored by Longstreth Hockey and costs $50 per player, is from 3 to 4 p.m., followed by four high-school games set to start at 4:40 p.m.
Last year’s inaugural salute was held outside on the football field at Meridian High School in Falls Church.
The main purpose of the event is to honor high-school senior players so they can wear their high school jerseys one more time and be recognized for their contributions in their field hockey programs, schools and communities.
There will be senior players represented from 26 public high-school teams in Northern Virginia, including many from the GazetteLeader’s coverage area.
Players from Arlington high schools Wakefield, Washington-Liberty and recent Class 6 state champion Yorktown are scheduled to participate. Langley, Madison, Marshall and Oakton high schools from the paper’s Fairfax County coverage footprint will have players attending, as well.
Other high schools with participating players will be Alexandria City, Annandale, Centreville, Chantilly, Edison, Fairfax, Falls Church, Hayfield, Herndon, Lake Braddock, Meridian, Mount Vernon, Robinson, South Lakes, Thomas Jefferson, Westfield, West Potomac, West Springfield and W.T. Woodson.
In all, some 60 high-school seniors are expected to play, with some 30 youth attending the clinic.
The name of the four high-school teams are Team Aerials, Team Breakaways, Team Corners and Team Drives.
The first game starting at 4:40 p.m. is between Team Aerials and Team Corners. The following contests pit Team Breakaways vs. Team Drives, Team Aerials vs. Team Drives and Team Breakaways vs. Team Corners.
Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $5 for children. Those under age 5 are admitted free. Proceeds from the clinic support the partnership with the Washington Field Hockey Association.
For more information about the event, visit: http://bit.ly/NOVA-Sr-Salute.
NOTE: Participants of the youth clinic will be invited to join the high-five tunnel during the introductions of the high-school players participating in the games.
