WMass field hockey: Amelia Rider sends Franklin Tech into Class C championship game (VIDEO)

TURNERS FALLS — The top-seeded Franklin Tech field hockey team was on upset alert against fourth-seeded Hampshire Regional on Thursday afternoon. Amelia Rider ensured that it didn’t happen, as the senior came through with a clutch goal in the second overtime to help the Eagles capture a 2-1 win over the Raiders in the Western Mass. Class C semifinals.

Throughout the game, Rider played with a bit of an edge. There were several back and forth exchanges with the officials. The playoff atmosphere gave Rider a little extra juice against the Raiders.

“I think it was the drive that I had to push my team to win this game,” Rider said. “We’ve been working all season to play as a team and score these goals. We all want to score, we all want to make it to Western Mass., we all want to play together and win together. That drive that I have was getting me frustrated every time I got that call.”

In the second overtime, Rider did all the talking with her play. Abigail Dobias gained entry into the striking circle before feeding Teagan Donahue, who swept the play in front of the net. Rider found the net just inside the right post after a brief stick battle. The victory sent the Eagles into the Western Mass. championship game against second-seeded West Springfield on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. at Clark Field in West Springfield.

“All that frustration I had in my head and my body it kind of pushed me to win it for my team,” Rider said. “I feel like my team is my family. This is a really big win for us.”

Playing West Springfield on its home turf should be a challenge for the Eagles.

Franklin Tech controlled play but did not gain an advantage until the third quarter. The goal came on an exquisite set on a penalty corner. Leah Meattey inserted before Dobias smothered the ball with her stick, allowing Rider to launch the ball near the net. Meattey stuffed it home on the post after a rebound to give Franklin Tech a 1-0 lead.

In an instant, the Raiders tied the game in the fourth quarter when Anna Huard swung at a ball near her eye level and guided it into the net with seven minutes, 40 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. The goal stunned Franklin Tech as the fourth quarter came to an end.

“It was upsetting,” Dobias said. “It was a stressful game. But on the 7-on-7, I thought we played more together. I had the mindset that we were going to win after we scored. I was frustrated and we almost let that destroy us until the end.”

Overtime rules in field hockey feature a 7-on-7 situation with 10 minutes on the clock. The defense stood tall in the first overtime when Meattey and Rider had to leave the game with cards. Some of the precarious situations in the game gave Franklin Tech something it might need against West Springfield. The Eagles split two games with the Terriers during the regular season. Franklin Tech won at home and lost at Clark Field.

“I think it was really good for them to have that,” Franklin Tech coach Rian Lovett said. “It was one of those years where we’ve been riding the high. We haven’t had a lot of that adversity. I think it was good to have that reality check. The biggest thing was to just relax and play.”

Redyn Gutierrez made six saves for the Eagles. Hampshire got exemplary play from the duo of Grace Layman and Sarah Zajac. Layman impressed in the overtime periods and finished with 17 saves for the Raiders.

Volleyball

Western Mass. playoffs

Lee 3, Pioneer 0 — The Wildcats swept the Panthers in the Western Mass. Class D semifinals in the Berkshires. Set scores were 25-15, 25-16 and 25-22.

“The girls left everything on the court tonight, and I couldn’t be prouder of their heart, determination, and fight,” Pioneer coach Shannon Connolly said. “They battled every point and never backed down. We’re incredibly excited to find out next week’s matchups as we shift our focus to the state tournament.”

Evangeline Lewis (14 digs) and Serenity Brown (16 digs) played well on defense for Pioneer. Sophia Wood had nine assists and four kills for Pioneer.

PVCA 3, Franklin Tech 0 — Emma Petersen and Lily Baldwin both had nine digs for the fourth-seeded Eagles in a loss to top-seeded PVCA in the Western Mass. Class C semifinals in Springfield. Set scores were 25-16, 25-12 and 25-19. Sarah Beckwith had four kills and 10 digs.

Renaissance 3, Mohawk 0 — The top-seeded Phoenix cruised past the Warriors in the Western Mass. Class D semifinals in Springfield. Set scores were 25-10, 25-15 and 25-17. Emmalee Inman had three kills, seven blocks and six digs for the Warriors. Anna Whitaker added six digs.

MVADA Tournament

Girls soccer

Franklin Tech 2, McCann Tech 0— The Eagles clinched a spot in the Division 5 state tournament with a win over the Hornets in state vocational consolation play in Turners Falls. Faythe Sobieski scored on a corner kick in the 67th minute to give Franklin Tech the lead. Sobieski’s corner curved into the net for the tally. Layla Hammond later scored her first goal of the year on an assist from Lillianna Miller. Sheyenne Ballentin made three saves in the shutout. Ellie Gonzalez and Payson Lynde led the defensive effort.

Regular season

Boys soccer

Mohawk 4, Ware 2 — The Warriors got in the win column for the first time this season with a win over the Indians in Buckland on Wednesday. Bruin Thompson scored in the 23rd minute with an assist from Esteban Kenny. Cole Cross added a pair of goals for the Warriors. Jed Amstein also scored for Mohawk.

Field hockey

Turners Falls 1, Palmer 0 — A goal by Ella Larouche in the first quarter turned out to be the game-winner for the Thunder in a home win over Palmer on Wednesday. Enmauel Quezada registered the assist for Turners Falls (3-11-1). Connor Glennon claimed the shutout in net.

Greenfield 1, Amherst 0 — The Green Wave earned a victory over the Hurricanes at Woodcock Field on Thursday afternoon. Madison Lemay scored in the first quarter on an assist from Kyra Tamsin.