Hereford's double-overtime state title clash with defending champion Pocomoke yesterday produced enough excitement and close calls for a dozen games.

The only thing missing was a game-winning goal.

Hereford's Amanda Coleman scored the last goal early in the second half, as the two teams played to a 2-2 tie in regulation. Even two wild 10-minute, seven-on-seven overtime periods could not produce a winner on Goucher College's Jo Fiske Field.

Sharing the Class 1A state title hardly mattered to the Bulls, who celebrated with gusto after 80 minutes of exhausting hockey.

"Sharing a championship is not something that, ever in a million years, crossed anybody on this team's mind," said Bulls senior Sarah Warner, "but no one is complaining. Sharing it with Pocomoke is a great honor. They've won it four years in a row and here we are in our first year in the state finals."

The last time Hereford won a state field hockey championship, no one on this year's team was even born. That was 1979.

In this state tournament, the Bulls (14-3-1) experienced a bit of everything, including a 2-0 semifinal win Wednesday in which Melanie Schwarzmann converted a penalty stroke in each half.

Tracy Kessler gave the Bulls the early lead, deflecting in a perfect crossing pass from Julia McKibbin.

After the Warriors scored two goals, the Bulls got a textbook goal from Jen Marstellar to tie.

Pub Date: 11/15/98