After suffering through a extended dry spell over the past seven seasons, the Greenfield High School field hockey team is finally back atop the PVIAC Northern Division.
The Green Wave receive a stern test from Mohawk Trail Regional High School and found itself tied with 8 minutes to go, but two late goals propelled Greenfield to its division-clinching 4-2 victory Tuesday night at Veterans Memorial Field in Greenfield.
“(Mohawk) came out with a lot of energy,” said Greenfeld coach Erin Thayer. “We weren’t communicating and we struggled to control the ball on our sticks and to move to the ball for a good 30 minutes.
“About halfway through the second half, they started moving to the ball and controlling it, playing the way they know how to play, and finishing strong,” she added. “I’m most proud of the way we fought through adversity.”
Greenfield (13-0-2 overall, 7-0-0 North) captured its first division title since 2008. It’s also the last time the Green Wave finished the regular season undefeated.
Ragean Hickey scored the only tally of the first half when she air dribbled into the penalty circle and smacked a shot past Warrior goalkeeper Isis Moon (4 saves) with 10 minutes, 8 seconds left in the period.
Mohawk, which held the upper hand in both shots on goal (17-8) and penalty corners (10-6), tied it on Ashley Walker’s drive from the top of the circle just 3:32 into the second half.
Hickey notched her second unassisted goal on a mirror image of her first with 19:04 left to put Greenfield back on top, but the Warriors struck for the equalizer just 1:22 later on Caitlin Johnston’s unassisted tally.
It stayed tied until Grace Kenendy knocked home a pass from Audrey Bresciano with 7:26 remaining to put the Green Wave ahead to stay, and Hickey slapped home the insurance marker with 5:14 left to complete her hat trick.
Samantha Smith made 15 saves to earn the win in goal.
Greenfield hosts Frontier Regional School Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
Southwick 2, Athol 1 — Southwick-Tolland Regional High School scored twice in the first half and held on to beat Athol High School, 2-1, in a Western Division field hockey game Tuesday in Southwick.
Emily Martin (assisted by Maddi Frey) and Erica Pickard scored the Rams’ goals, while Lexi Cucchi scored for the Red Raiders, assisted by Maddie Truehart.
Hudson Carlson made 19 saves in goal for Athol, which was outshot 21-2.
Athol doesn’t return to action until Tuesday, when it hosts Franklin County Technical School at 4 p.m.
Frontier 19, Mohawk 5 — Frontier Regional School made it official Tuesday afternoon, clinching the outright Bi-County League Northern Division golf title with a 19-5 win over Mohawk on Tuesday at Edge Hill Golf Course in Ashfield.
Mike Corduff, Bryan Baumann and Rowan Blair all carded 41s and swept 4 points for the champions (12-2, 11-1), while Kalen Evans also took 4 points and Kyle Spencer (43) added 3 points.
Danny White took 4 points for the Warriors.
Pioneer 18, FC Tech 6 — Jacob Willis carded a 37 and swept 4 points to help Pioneer Valley Regional School defeat Franklin County Tech, 18-6, in a BCL North golf match Tuesday at Northfield Golf Club.
Sam Kitfield-Vernon (41), Garrett Cote (41) and Jacob Fuller also took 4 points for the Panthers (13-4, 9-3).
Shayla Demers swept 4 points for the Eagles (4-13, 4-8).
McCann 19½, Turners 4½ — Nick Krzanik took 4 points as McCann Technical School downed Turners Falls High School, 19½-4½, in a BCL North golf match Tuesday at Thomas Memorial Golf & Country Club in Turners Falls.
Jake Tower and Brian Boudreau both added 3½ ponts for the Hornets (11-2, 10-2).
Kyle Kucenski was match medalist with a 40 and took 3½ points for the Indians (3-13-1, 2-10).
Smith Academy 14, Greenfield 10 — Cam Healey and Carter Woodward both swept 4 points in Smith Academy’s 14-10 independent golf win over Greenfield Tuesday at the Country Club of Greenfield.
Hunter Zygmont added 3½ points for the Falcons (8-7).
George Balis (43) swept 4 points, Chrisitian LaPlante added 3 points and match medalist Tyler Boissonneault (39) contributed 2½ points for the Green Wave (7-7).
Turners 3, Greenfield 0 — Sienna Dillensneider totaled 15 assists, 3 aces and 2 kills to lead Turners Falls over Greenfield, 25-22, 25-15, 25-11, in PVIAC Northern Division girls’ volleyball action Tuesday night at Nichols Gymnasium in Greenfield.
Tess Hunter finished with 7 kills, 4 aces and a block, Jordyn Fiske added 5 kills and an ace, and Adrianna Dimaio had 5 kills for the Indians (8-7, 6-2 North).
Amy Muniz led the Green Wave (1-13, 1-7) with 10 assists and 2 aces. Molley Duclos finished with 8 kills and 2 blocks, Casey Noyes collected 8 digs and Emily Maloney added 3 aces and 2 digs.
FC Tech 3, Renaissance 0 — Jocelyn Holloway registered 5 aces, 6 digs, 1 ace and 1 kill to lead Franklin County Technical School to a 31-29, 25-22, 25-19 win over the Renaissance School in a Metro Division girls’ volleyball match Tuesday in Springfield.
Isabelle Duga (2 aces, 7 digs) and Summer Gaudreau (2 aces, 3 kills) played well for the Eagles.
Franklin Tech travels to Mohawk Thursday at 5 p.m.
Ware 3, Mahar 0 — Central Division-leading Ware High School improved to 12-3 overall after dispatching Mahar Regional School, 25-18, 25-13, 25-16, in an independent girls’ volleyball match Tuesday in Ware.
Aria Flematti collected 7 assists, Maeve Powell had 6 kills and Sophia Smith totaled 6 digs and 3 kills for the Senators (2-13). Quincey Drew and Lauren Henne each chipped in collected 5 digs and Serenity Eastman had 3 aces.