Ever since Cazenovia’s field hockey season ended last November with a defeat to eventual state champion Whitney Point in the Class C regional final, defender Zoe Shephard has seen her profile continue to grow.
And that off-season work peaked on Aug. 8, a mere nine days before the Lakers began practices for the 2015 season, when Shephard gained a gold medal at the conclusion of field hockey competition in the AAU Junior Olympics, held in Virginia.
It was Shephard’s work in last winter’s US Field Hockey Futures Program and New York Regional Futures Tournament that got her a place in the National Futures Championship in June in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
From there, Shephard qualified for the AAU Junior Olympics, named to Team Black, coached by Colorado native Paul Lewis. In all, eight teams – Black, Teal, Royal, Lime, Red, Navy, Pink and Gold – took part in the Junior Olympics tournament.
Play began on Aug. 5, with Shephard and her Black side tying Teal 3-3. A day later, Black lost to Navy, 4-1, and on the brink of tournament elimination, recovered to rout Pink 6-1.
Black defeated Royal 3-2 on Aug. 7 in a crossover game to advance to the medal round on Aug. 8. Against undefeated Gold, Shephard’s squad claimed a 3-1 victory, earning a spot in the finals, where Black held off another undefeated side, Red, by a score of 2-1 for the gold medal.
Now it’s back to Cazenovia, where Shephard and the Lakers open against New Hartford this Friday in the Fayetteville-Manlius Tournament.
