Katie Keane scored once in each half and Pioneer Valley Regional School’s playoff hopes took a major blow as it suffered a 2-0 loss to Holyoke High School in West Division field hockey action Monday afternoon in Northfield.
The Panthers (6-8-1) needed five points in their final four games coming into Monday to qualify for the WMass Division II Tournament. Pioneer still has Turners Falls High School (this evening in Turners Falls), Athol High School (Thursday night in Athol) and Greenfield High School (Friday afternoon in Greenfield) remaining, but getting a point against the unbeaten Green Wave in the season finale will be a tough task.
Both of Keane’s goals were assisted by Bella Courchesne, as Holyoke held a 19-2 edge in shots. Stephanie Scoville managed to stop 17 shots and earned the praise of her coach.
“She had an unbelievable game today,” Pioneer coach Sallie Gilliland said. “It was great to see that out of a freshman.”
Cheyenne Dunn stopped both shots to earn the shutout.
Frontier 0, Smith Academy 0 — Smith Academy took a big step toward qualifying for the postseason as Teagan Cavanaugh stopped 14 shots and the Falcons hung on for a 0-0 draw with Frontier Regional School in a North Division field hockey game Monday in South Deerfield.
Smith Academy (6-7-3) needs three points in its final two games to qualify for the postseason. The Falcons should beat Amherst Regional High School on Friday, which makes their showdown with Mohawk Trail Regional High School Wednesday afternoon in Buckland (3:30 p.m.) huge. If Smith can tie or beat the Warriors, it should be assured a spot.
The Red Hawks (12-1-4) dominated offensively, outshooting the Falcons, 14-1, but Frontier coach Missy Mahar said the Smith Academy defense, particularly Izzy Duseau, had a strong showing.
“Smith played a very defensively sound game,” Mahar said. “When we did get it in the circle, we just couldn’t capitalize.”
Frontier outcornered the Falcons, 10-2. Red Hawks’ goalie Skyla Burniske stopped the one shot she faced.
Agawam 1, Mahar 0 — Nina Bruno scored on an assist from Eliza Timms midway through the first half and Agawam High School defeated Mahar Regional School, 1-0, in an independent field hockey game Monday afternoon in Orange.
Agawam outshot the Senators (5-11-0), 12-4, and Mahar goalie Hannah Birch made 11 saves. Nicole Bates stopped all four shots she faced to pick up the shutout.
Mohawk 3, Pioneer 0 — Lexi Mazza totaled 10 kills, 5 digs and 3 blocks to lead Mohawk Trail Regional High School over Pioneer Valley Regional School, 25-17, 25-21, 25-22, in a PVIAC Northern Division girls’ volleyball match Monday in Buckland.
Ashley Reynolds dished out 22 assists and added 5 digs, McKenzie Mayhew had 20 digs and 4 kills, Olivia Dubrule added 9 digs and 5 kills, and Hayley Lowell chipped in 12 digs for the Warriors (7-9, 4-4 North), who must beat Turners Falls on Wednesday and Greenfield on Thursday to qualify for the postseason.
Lizzie Fuller finished with 9 digs, 4 kills and 3 aces, Caroline Merkle chipped in 8 assists and 4 aces, and Madison Tyson contributed 5 kills and 3 digs for the Panthers (7-11, 2-6).
Turners 3, Mahar 1 — Turners Falls High School celebrated Senior Night with a 25-12, 21-25, 25-10, 25-9 North girls’ volleyball verdict over Mahar Regional School Monday night in Turners Falls.
Tess Hunter led the Indians’ five seniors with 9 kills, 2 aces and 1 dig, while Jordyn Fiske pitched in with 8 aces, 4 digs and 2 kills.
Classmates Maddy Johnson (3 digs, 2 kills, 1 assist), Melissa Hersey (4 aces, 1 assist, 1 dig) and Kaili Lynch (2 kills, 1 ace) also contributed to the win, and junior Sienna Dillensneider racked up 17 assists, 4 aces and 3 kills.
Sophie Smith finished with 4 aces and 3 digs, Maeve Powell had 3 kills and 3 blocks, Ava Santana totaled 4 kills and Aria Flematti contributed 5 assists for the Senators.
Turners (9-9, 7-2), which has already qualified for the postseason by virtue of its runner-up finish in the FCL, travels to Mohawk on Wednesday.
Athol 3, Millis 0 — Athol High School won its 14 consecutive match by besting Millis High School, 25-21, 25-20, 25-19, in an independent girls’ volleyball match Monday at Mallet Gymnasium in Athol.
Hope Parker led the Red Raiders (16-2) with 15 kills, 4 aces and 2 blocks, while Julia Ramos collected 13 assists and Jess Soucie finished with 4 aces and 4 kills.
Athol hosts Pioneer Wednesday.
Greenfield 3, Duggan 1 — Amy Muniz regsitered 13 assists, 5 aces and 2 kills to lead Greenfield High School over John J. Duggan Academy, 25-15, 18-25, 25-9, 25-13, in an independent girls’ volleyball match Monday in Springfield.
Mackenzie Morey finished with 7 aces and 5 kills, and Molley Duclos added 6 kills and 5 aces for the Green Wave (2-14).
Hopkinton 3, Frontier 0 — Frontier Regional School dropped its sixth straight match with a 25-16, 25-13, 25-17 loss to Hopkinton High School in independent girls’ volleyball action Monday at Goodnow Gymnasium in South Deerfield.
Ella Deane totaled 19 assists and 4 digs, Selayna Bathurst had 6 kills and 8 digs, Lauren Davenport logged 5 kills, 6 digs and 2 aces, and Grace Randall chipped in 5 kills and 2 aces for the Red Hawks (5-12).
Frontier travels to Minnechaug Regional High School today at 5 p.m.
Smith Voke 3, FC Tech 0 — Smith Vocational High School rolled to a 25-9, 25-8, 25-21 victory over Franklin County Technical School in a Metro Division girls’ volleyball action Monday in Northampton.
Reagan Fiske had 4 digs, 1 ace and 1 kill, and Leah Wozniak added 3 aces and 1 dig for the Eagles (2-17, 2-5 Metro)
Franklin Tech closes out the season Wednesday at home against High School of Commerce at 4 p.m.