GREENFIELD — The first step toward a third consecutive Western Massachusetts championship is complete for the Greenfield field hockey team.
The top-seeded Green Wave beat No. 8 Mahar, 10-0, in the quarterfinal round of the Division 2 tournament on Wednesday.
“We have been working on some specific things in practice,” Greenfield coach Erin Thayer said. “I definitely saw them following through and carrying out some of that stuff today. We did a lot of things right today.”
The Green Wave (17-2) will host the winner of No. 4 South Hadley and No. 5 Mohawk, next week at a time to be determined.
Mahar (10-6-3) had to play its final game without leading scorer Anna Wetherbee, who was out with a concussion.
The chemistry, experience and talent of Greenfield was too much for the Senators to handle.
“Someone has to break down their lanes,” Mahar coach Laurie Saisa said of Greenfield. “If you watch their passing it is a little bit quicker.”
Lilly Fellows and Aimee Dupont played their last game for Mahar. Wetherbee, also a senior, made the trip with her team and watched from the sideline.
Raegan Hickey scored Greenfield’s first goal about 10 minutes into the game. If there is one thing Greenfield needs to work on it’s starting out a little faster.
“We need to start the game fired up from the very beginning,” Thayer said. “It’s a mental thing. We often think about who is on the other side instead of someone on the other side. It doesn’t matter who is on the other side we have to play our game.”
The Senators were playing defense for most of the game, rarely breaking out for offensive chances. Sam Smith did not have to make a save in the shutout for Greenfield.
After Hickey’s goal the Green Wave did not let up until the final horn. Hickey ended up with two goals and two assists.
Katie Haselton also had four points with a goal and three assists for Greenfield.
Lillia Kachelmeyer, Madyson Kucheski and Audrey Bresciano added two goals each.
Racquel Provost added a goal and an assist, while Kaylah Eggsware chipped in with an assist.
Bella Marigliano made six saves for the Senators before giving way to Caroline Chase, who made 12 saves in the second half.
