The Concord field hockey team was still reeling from an exhausting loss to Winnacunnet heading into Wednesday’s game with Manchester Central.
Winnacunnet, last year’s Division I champion and the only undefeated team in the division so far this season, bounced Concord from the tournament in the quarterfinals, making Monday’s loss hurt just a little bit more. It also snapped a four-game winning streak for the Tide.
But the Concord girls (5-3) bounced back Wednesday with a 2-0 win over Central (5-1-1), dealing the Little Green their first loss of the year.
“We’re really coming together,” said Concord Coach Bonnie Proulx. “My midfield and defense is so solid this year . . . we just dominated and took it to the sides and carried it up the field.”
This year’s edition of the Tide saw most of its top players return, having only graduated three seniors last spring, two starters among them. But a new face, freshman goaltender Megan Martel, is already making a good impression having allowed just six goals through the first eight games of the season.
“She’s absolutely fantastic,” Proulx said. Martel faced only five shots in Wednesday’s shutout win.
Emily Forward put the Tide on the board first scoring off a give-and-go with Olivia Branch in the first half.
Concord pushed harder in the second half, limiting Central’s offensive chances and scoring on a doorstep goal by Hayley Munroe that was assisted by Lauren Mullen.
The Tide are on the road next week when they face Keene on Wednesday.
Franklin 4, Laconia 2
Key players: Franklin – Hailey Haskins (2 goals), Lauren Marsh (goal), Meghan Johnston (goal)
Highlights/key moments: Franklin battled back after Laconia scored just 4:22 into the game and led the Golden Tornadoes 2-1 at the half. Franklin scored three goals in the second half to deliver the win.
Coach’s quote: “We played a good game. Our communication and intensity increased as the game progressed. … The girls are prepared to go in and play what ever position is needed to help out the team.” – Franklin’s Deborah Georgevits
Records: Franklin 3-4; Laconia 2-5-1
Goffstown 2, Coe-Brown 0
Highlights/key moments:Coe-Brown and Goffstown were scoreless through the first 74 minutes. The Bears had their best chances to get on the board in the first half before hitting a lull in offense in the second.
Coach’s quote:“Not a great game today, but we held off a strong attacking team. I’m still positive.” – Coe-Brown’s Christian Gompert
Records:Coe-Brown 4-3-1; Goffstown 7-1
Portsmouth 4, MV 1
Highlights/key moments: Merrimack Valley suffered its sixth loss of the year as it tries to find the magic it had in its opening win Aug. 26 against Kearsarge.
Coach’s quote: “We came out flat in the first half and Portsmouth took advantage of it.” – MV’s Ken Fuller.
Records: MV 1-6-1; Portsmouth 2-5-1
Oyster River 4, Pembroke 0
Key players: Courtney Jacques (defense), Casey Bardier (midfield), Danielle Parent (offense), Meghan Gauss (defense).
Highlights/key moments:Oyster River jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead and never allowed the Spartans to claw their way back. The loss was Pembroke’s second in a row after beginning the season with six straight wins.
Records:Oyster River 6-2; Pembroke 6-2.
Concord 3, Timberlane 0
Key players:Concord – Caitlyn Shea (32 assists), Lauren hatch (21 kills)
Highlights/key moments: Caitlyn Shea broke the Concord High School record for career assists during the match. She surpassed the old record of 1,588 and ended the night with 1,609. Concord swept Timberlane 25-10, 25-6 and 25-13.
Records: Concord 7-0; Timberlane 2-5
Coe-Brown 3, Portsmouth 0
Key players:Coe-Brown – Shannon Reilly (20 for 20 on serves, 4 aces, 12 assists), Kerry Reilly (19 for 19 on servers, 4 kills), Amaya Newport (team-high 5 kills)
Records: Coe-Brown 5-1; Portsmouth 2-4
Belmont 3, Campbell 1
Key players:Belmont – Emily Laflame (22 assists, 2 aces, block), Shannon Davies (5 kills, 2 blocks), Morgan Ferguson (6 digs), Jordan Lavalle (5 aces, 5 kills)
Highlights/key moments: Belmont took the first set by a small margin, 25-23. After losing the second set, 25-22, Belmont came back to win the third and fourth sets, 25-17 and 25-21.
Records: Belmont 4-3; Laconia 2-4
Raymond 3, Hillsboro-Deering 2
Key players: Nicole Mooney (11 aces, 6 digs), Kristina Stevens (6 aces, 2 kills), Kaelyn Snair (6 kills).
Highlights/key moments:The Hillcats won the first two sets with identical scores of 26-24, but couldn’t clinch a decisive third win against Raymond.
Coach’s quote: “The girls played extremely well together tonight and really fought hard for each point. Raymond was great competition for us and unfortunately it came down to a deciding set that we just weren’t able to quite seal the win in.” – Hillsboro-Deering’s Nicoe LaRoche.
Records:Raymond 2-3; Hillsboro-Deering 1-6.
Winnisquam 3, Moultonborough 1
Key players:Winnisquam – Shannon Goodwin (15 kills, 13 digs), Talia DeBlaise (24 assists, 6 kills, 10 digs), Nicole Matcheski (9 kills, 2 blocks, 15 digs), Madison Skeats (3 kills, 2 blocks, 5 digs), Meghan Harmon (2 kills, 3 blocks, 3 aces, 4 digs), Kerry Boyle (12 digs), Aubrey St. Onge (12 digs, 7 assists)
Highlights/key moments: After leading early, Winnisquam gave up the first set 25-22. Winnisquam turned it around in the second and third sets with wins, 25-13 and 25-17. Winnisquam fell far behind in the fourth and final set, but came back to win 28-26 and seal the match.
Records: Winnisquam 5-0; Moultonborough 5-1
White Mountain 184, Farmington 187, Hopkinton 190
Highlights/key moments: Hopkinton’s Larsen Burack and Nick Fairneny each scored a low 41 for the team. Andrew Fairneny had 52 strokes and Ryan Hughes had 56.
Records: Hopkinton 9-8; Farmington 8-5; White Mountains 12-3