GLOVERSVILLE – In what has been a trying season off the field, Johnstown field hockey coach Christine Krempa and her team had a reason to celebrate Thursday.
Krempa earned her 100th career win as the Lady Bills posted a 9-0 victory in a Foothills Council contest at Gloversville High School
Last month, 2021 Johnstown High School graduate and former member of the field hockey team, Haley Case, died in an automobile accident.
“It’s been a rough year. Losing Haley was awful and it’s still hard for all of us,” coach Krempa said. “It’s nice to have a little bit of happiness here and there, like this and when Kalena got her 100th point, but it’s still tough.”
In her eighth season as coach, Krempa has won 10 or more games over her last six seasons, including a 60-4 record over the last four seasons and a trip to the Class C state title game and a Section II Class C title in 2019.
Krempa’s daughters, Cole and Caroline, helped her reach the milestone Thursday. Cole finished with two goals and an assist, while Caroline added a goal and an assist. Bella Bermas and Kalena
Eaton each scored twice for the Lady Bills, Alexa Savage added a goal and an assist, and Nicole Simon also scored. Ayaka Sasaki, Jena Barker and Emily Pertell all added assists for Johnstown (10-1 overall, 9-1 Foothills).
“It’s special to have my girls on the team for it,” coach Krempa said. “It’s a nice accomplishment and it’s nice to be recognized by the girls.”
Emilia Haverly made just one save to post the shutout win in goal for the Lady Bills, who recorded their seventh shutout of the season.
Payton Dow made 15 saves for Gloversville (0-12 overall, 0-9 Foothills), which has been outscored 107-1 and shutout in 11 of its 12 games.
The 9-0 win matched the scoreline of coach Krempa’s first victory, a 9-0 triumph at Hudson Falls on Sept. 9, 2014. Krempa is now 100-32 in her eight seasons as coach.
“I’ve been blessed to have good kids and athletes,” coach Krempa said. “Certainly, I’m not out there running up and down the field. I’m lucky to have great coaches and parents that have been part of this. Coach Boggs [Jeanine LoDestro] has been with me the whole time and Tracy [Ringer] has been there too.”
Johnstown 9, Gloversville 0
Johnstown 1 2 4 0 – 9
Gloversville 0 0 0 0 – 0
Johnstown scoring: Co. Krempa 2-1, Savage 1-1, Ca. Krempa 1-1, Eaton 2-0, Simon 1-0, Pertell 0-1. Sasaki 0-1, Bermas 2-0, Barker 0-1. Gloversville scoring: None. Goalies: Johnstown, Haverly, 1 save. Gloversville, Dow, 15 saves.
