Slighted — very much unintentionally — during pregame introductions, Bella Kim certainly wasn’t forgotten once a recent all-star field-hockey match began.
By scoring a goal, assisting on another and taking multiple shots, the senior for the Potomac School Panthers was selected as the Player of the Game for the Home team in the annual Independent School League girls all-star game.
The high-school contest among private-school players was held Wednesday (Nov. 20) at The St. James in Springfield.
Kim was one of three players from the Potomac School who participated for the squad called the Home team. For the Away squad, three players from Flint Hill School and two from the Madeira School participated.
During the pregame ceremonies, Kim’s name was not on the official program roster for some reason. So despite standing on the sideline with her teammates, who were each announced by name during introductions and individually ran onto the field, Kim’s name was never called.
She was the only one still remaining on the sideline after introductions, so Kim casually ran onto the field to join her teammates.
Once Kim took the field, the omission was noticed and she was called out by name by the game public-address announcer for her prowess, which during the game included scoring an unassisted goal and having an assist.
The Away all-stars won the match, 5-3. Flint Hill senior forward Megan Jones scored a goal for the winning team and her junior teammate Kiera Stout played in goal. Flint Hill senior defender Alanna Jones (who had been selected second-team Division I all-state) had an assist.
Madeira’s two players for the Away squad were junior forward Avery Jones and sophomore forward Anna Hitzblack.
Also playing from Potomac School were senior defender India Cairncross and junior forward Brooke Ambrose. Those three Potomac School players helped the team finish with an 11-10 record this season and earn a Division I state tournament berth as the No. 6 seed, losing to third-seeded Collegiate in the first round.
Flint Hill finished 8-8-2 and Madeira 1-14 for the season.
