ORANGE — The Mahar Regional School field hockey team moved a step closer to a playoff berth after a 3-0 win over Athol High School in an independent game on Tuesday night at the Woodward Complex.
To clinch a postseason spot, the Senators need a win over Turners Falls tonight back at the Woodward Complex.
“(Tonight) is a big one for us,” Mahar coach Laurie Saisa said. “We will see how that goes.”
Mahar (7-8-2) lost to Turners Falls earlier in the season, but the team is looking forward to a shot against the Thunder on its home turf.
“We play way better here,” Saisa said. “We know who we are playing.”
The Senators played Turners Falls in early September, and have improved since the first meeting, according to captain Abby Henne
“Our stick skills have improved,” Henne said. “Our passing and our lanes have improved. We are actually playing as a team and not individually.”
There was also a busing issue before the first game against the Thunder and the Senators had to get right off the bus and play.
“We didn’t warm up,” Saisa said. “Our heads were out of it.”
The win for the Senators came on “Play for The Cure” night, a fundraiser for breast cancer. Each team wore pink-themed uniforms and there were raffles and a bake sale.
“It was a fun night for us,” Saisa said. “Everybody played, all my JV kids played tonight. It was a good night for a good cause.”
Athol (3-13) got a productive game from keeper Sam Kenniff, but could get not much of an attack on the Mahar goal.
Mahar had 19 shots compared to four for the Red Raiders.
“It’s always hard playing on turf,” Athol coach Emily Hall said. “We are used to grass.”
Kenniff made 16 saves for the Red Raiders.
The Red Raiders core group of sophomores — Christa Cucchi, Avah York, Kenniff, Ashley Rouleau, Sadey Lehtomaki and Abby Kirwan — have steadily improved this season.
“We are always progressing,” Hall said. “But I expect a lot out of them. They aren’t that young anymore.”
Mahar scored twice within the first six minutes of the game to take a 2-0 lead.
Sophia Whitman scored first, with an assist coming from Aileen Fitzgerald.
Just three minutes later, Gracie Marsh scored an unassisted goal to give the Senators a 2-0 lead at 24 minutes, 41 seconds of the first half.
The Senators scored again in the second half, when Hannah Dupont collected her own rebound and shot past Kenniff.
The third goal came with 17:21 left in the game.
Isabella Bisceglia made four saves in the shutout for Mahar.
Mahar 3, Athol 0
|
Athol |
0 |
0 |
— |
0 |
|
Mahar |
2 |
1 |
— |
3 |
Goals: (M) Whitman, Marsh, Dupont
Assists: (M) Fitzgerald.
Shots: Athol 4. Mahar 19.
Saves: (A) Kenniff 16. (M) Bisceglia 4; Ryan 0.
Corners: Athol 1. Mahar 3.
