SOUTH DEERFIELD — Without much turbulence, the Frontier Regional field hockey team advanced to the Western Mass. Class A championship game with a 5-1 win over Agawam on Wednesday afternoon.
The Redhawks seek their 11th sectional championship under coach Missy Mahar. Top-seeded Frontier dominated most of the game against the Brownies, but there were moments when Agawam broke through the defensive shield and applied some pressure.
“Just playing the entire 60 minutes,” Mahar said. “Agawam didn’t let up. They were down but they contested the entire game. Keeping ourselves in it for those 60 minutes is important. We talk about really breaking it down quarter by quarter and focus on the first 15 and what we can do better the next 15.”
Addie Harrington of Frontier (right) celebrates a goal with Rowan Reilly, Wednesday in South Deerfield. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Brynna Fahey of the Frontier Regional field hockey team battles for possession against Agawam, Wednesday in South Deerfield. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
The Frontier Regional field hockey team celebrates a goal against Agawam, Wednesday in South Deerfield Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
The Frontier Regional field hockey team celebrates a goal against Agawam, Wednesday in South Deerfield Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo
The championship game is at West Springfield’s Clark Field on Saturday against second-seeded East Longmeadow at noon. Frontier has a close win and a tie against the Spartans this season. The Spartans took down crosstown rival Longmeadow, 2-1, under the lights at home.
“Third meetings are always the hardest,” Frontier’s Harper Modestow said. “It’s the hardest to win. We’ve talked about that. We are going to have to execute and finish. It’s been one of our biggest challenges. Finishing around the net, we get it there, but we can’t get it over the line. That’s what we are going to have to do. We are going to have to lock in and work together.”
Addie Harrington opened the scoring for Frontier with an unassisted goal early in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Modestow sent a shot toward the net that Rowan Reilly tipped in for the Redhawks. Frontier went to the intermission with a 2-0 lead.
Harrington got her second goal in the third quarter. The forward found a rebound and stuffed it home for Frontier. Brynna Fahey scored in the fourth quarter, giving Frontier a 4-0 lead.
Agawam got a little momentum with a goal by Lily Charest, assisted by Sophia Dibella. Frontier shut it down rather quickly off a penalty corner set. Reilly’s insert found the stick of Nora Sloan who set up Amelia Bouchard, who finished for the Redhawks.
Brooke Charest had eight saves for Frontier. Stella Christopher made 13 saves for the Brownies.
West Springfield 3, Mohawk 1 — The third-seeded Warriors took the defending Western Mass. champions to the brink but could not quite close out the second-seeded Terriers at Clark Field in West Springfield. Mohawk held a 1-0 halftime lead after a goal by Elizabeth Gilmore. Hailey Martin assisted on the play.
The tally came on an untimed corner at the end of the second quarter. Sadie Wilcox inserted the ball into the shooting circle before Martin set up Gilmore near the net. The Warriors got a huge save from Brynlee Purington in the third quarter when the keeper denied a penalty stroke.
Heidi Helenek of Mohawk watches the play against West Springfield, Wednesday in West Springfield. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Elliana Rubinaccio of Mohawk charges up the field against West Springfield. Wednesday in West Springfield. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Mohawk coach Greg Lilly addresses the Mohawk field hockey team at halftime against West Springfield, Wednesday in West Springfield. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
The Mohawk Trail field hockey team celebrates a goal against West Springfield, Wednesday in West Springfield. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo
Purington finished with seven saves. The Warriors (9-6-1) finished with their best season since the inception of the new state tournament format and will find out their opponent for the Division 4 bracket next week. In the latest power rankings, the Warriors ranked 39th.
West Side’s Emily Craven tied the game with three minutes, 32 seconds left in the third quarter. Brooklyn King and Nate Xavier scored in the fourth quarter to give West Springfield the lead. The Terriers play the winner of No. 1 Franklin Tech and No. 4 Hampshire Regional on Saturday at 10 a.m.
MVADA Tournament
Field Hockey
Franklin Tech 5, Monty Tech 0 — The Eagles advanced in the state vocational tournament with a win in Turners Falls. Amelia Rider netted a hat trick with an assist for the Eagles. Leah Meattey and Abigail Dobias (two assists) also scored for Franklin Tech. Nora Cutting added a helper for the offense. Redyn Gutierrez earned the shutout without having to make a save.
Volleyball
South Shore Tech 3, Franklin Tech 2 — South Shore Tech edged the Eagles in five sets in the state vocational tournament in Turners Falls. Set scores were 26-24, 20-25, 25-23, 18-25 and 15-13. Lily Baldwin had nine kills and 11 digs. Sarah Beckwith led the hitting effort with 11 kills and shored up the defense with 25 digs. Charley Knight played set-up with 26 assists along with eight digs.
