The Bow field hockey team had a good look at where it stands at the halfway point of the season, taking on undefeated Monadnock (8-0) on Thursday.
The Falcons (4-5) lost, 1-0, but against the perennial D-III field hockey powerhouse, the outlook is positive for Bow heading into the second half. The Falcons’ one-goal loss was the best showing of any team against the Huskies so far this season.
“It was a very good game, it just didn’t end in our favor,” Bow Coach Tracy Berube said. “(Monadnock’s) Maddie Ellnor is a solid player. They kind of build everything around her.”
The first half was scoreless with most of the game being played in the midfield. Monadnock outshot Bow, 8-4, but neither team generated much offense. The Falcons and Huskies each had four corners.
“It was a very even game, neither team really maximized on anything offensively in their circle. It was a (physical) battle in the midfield,” Berube said.
The undefeated Huskies – who average 4.4 goals per game – have allowed one goal all season and until Thursday’s game, had not been held to less than two goals scored.
“We took that as a win,” Berube said. “They were putting up more points against any other team.”
Bow goalie Lyndsey Wheeler played in the first half behind strong defensive performances from Dillon Hicks, Lizzie Pizzi and Claire Mulvaney and Courtney Baer was strong in net in the second half, but a goal from Caitlin Boucher 15:24 into the half gave Monadnock the win.
The goal took wind out of the Falcons’ sails temporarily, but served as a learning curve that could be valuable for the Falcons later in the season.
“I called a timeout … we were a little panicky,” Berube said a few minutes after the goal. “We played with a tremendous amount of emotion. We talked about how that emotion and how to use that energy and put in it a positive direction.”
After the timeout, Bow’s offense, led by Jennifer Ess and Hallie Lothrop, applied some pressure and forced a corner with 10 seconds left.
Bow’s Sonya Delorie sent a pass to a teammate near the post, but the ball bounced over her teammate’s stick and past the open net.
“We would have liked to have scored, but we were happy with how we played,” said Berube, whose squad will take on Berlin (4-3-1) on Saturday.
Pembroke 3, St. Thomas 1
Key players: Glenn Dion (goal, assist), Josh Dion (goal, assist), Matt Ferguson (goal), Damon Smith (assist)
Highlights/key moments: After suffering their first loss of the season at the hands of Oyster River on Tuesday, the Spartans bounced back with their fourth road win.
Records: Pembroke 7-1; St. Thomas 3-6
Somersworth 2, Franklin 1
Key players: R.J. Smith (goal), Gio Lemon (assist), Bryan Sweet (defense), Hannah Hicks (defense)
Highlights/key moments: Still searching for their first win, the Golden Tornadoes kept it scoreless until late in the second half.
Coach’s quote: “This was an exciting game between two well-matched teams. Both teams played great. We know what mistakes we made and will continue to work to correct them.” – Franklin’s Kevin VanGorden
Records: Franklin 0-8; Somersworth 4-4
Windham 2, John Stark 1, OT
Key players: Stark – Ryan Nelson (goal), Jake Reynolds (assist), Isaiah Lovering (overall good game), Tyler Restuccia (good defense)
Highlights/key moments: Stark took a 1-0 lead at the 46-minute mark on a header goal from Nelson on Reynolds’s corner kick. Windham tied the game 15 minutes later to force overtime. Windham, which suffered its first loss Tuesday, scored with time running out in the first OT to seal the victory.
Coach’s quote: “It was a frustrating loss but one we can take lessons from, improve and be ready for our next game.” – Stark’s Jeff Vogt
Records: John Stark 7-2; Windham 7-1
Hopkinton 6, Gilford 0
Key players: Hopkinton – Brianna Curley (2 goals), Grace Clark (2 assists), Taylor Signor (goal), Amelia Fitzgerald (goal), Meg Ellsworth (goal), Lilias Whitehead (goal)
Highlights/key moments: Curley’s header that sailed into the back of the net off a corner kick in the 61st minute was the highlight for the Hawks, Coach Laura Izzi said. “It was a gorgeous goal and we’ve been working on corners,” Izzi said. Hopkinton scored three goals 12 minutes apart in the second half to put the game out of reach. The Hawks have outscored their opponents 16-1 in a two-game win streak.
Coach’s quote: “In the second half, we just got the ball inside the frame and made it work. It was a good second half for us.” – Hopkinton’s Izzi
Records: Hopkinton 5-2-0; Gilford 1-7
Bow 4, Coe-Brown 2
Key players:Bow – Maggie Vogt (goal), Danni DesRuisseaux (2 goals), Abbey Horner (goal), Gwenn Molind (2 assists), Lauren Scarpetti (assist), Miah Munro (assist), Taylor Burnham (assist), Taylor Darrell (solid midfield play) Coe-Brown – Chelsea McCallion (2 goals), Katie Clinch (assist), Hallie Holland and Jayden Boulanger (strong midfield play)
Highlights/key moments: The Falcons struck first but the Bears struck back quickly to tie it up. Bow scored again two minutes after Coe-Brown’s goal and didn’t look back.
Coach’s quote: “It was an interesting game for us. We didn’t have a great first half but put three in the net. Played a much better second half but could only manage one goal.” – Bow’s Jay Vogt
“We were in the game all the way tonight, but we just have to put all 80 minutes in and do the little things right. We are in good shape, but as young as we are, we are still going through growing pains.” – Coe-Brown’s Josh Hils
Records: Bow 6-3; Coe-Brown 3-6
H-D 4, Inter-Lakes 0
Key players: H-D – Bridgette Winters (3 goals), Izabella Warren (goal, assist), Tavey Ortiz (assist), Mara Grady (assist), Melissa Veitch (3 saves)
Highlights/key moments: Warren scored the lone goal in the first half, but Winters completed a second-half hat trick to seal the win for the Hillcats. H-D was also bolstered by a strong team defense.
Coach’s quote: “(Inter-Lakes) did a really good job marking us and double-teaming our key players in the first half, but we spread our wings in the second half and spread the ball around more which made the difference.” – H-D’s Susan Else
Records: H-D 8-1-0; I-L 3-4-1
Concord first
Key players: Concord – Sean McDonough (38), Thomas Burns (40), Evan Makris (40), Ryan Merchant (42), Jeremiah Barry (43), Connor Sackos (43)
Highlights/key moments: The Tide (203) shot its best round of the year by eight strokes and swept a match against Londonderry (207) and Manchester Memorial (221) at Derryfield Country Club. Barry contributed to the scoring in his first match of the season.
Coach’s quote: “It’s our first time over .500 this season. We’re 9-7. We only need one more win to make it into states, which is our goal.” – Concord’s Ed Deshaies
Records: Concord 9-7
Bishop Brady second,
John Stark third
Key players: John Stark – Ryan Rothdiener (medalist, 36)
Highlights/key moments: Rothdiener took medalist honors, but hosts Hanover (208) had four players shoot 41s to defeat Bishop Brady (226) and John Stark (234).
Records: Hanover 18-2; Brady 12-9; John Stark 2-19
Kearsarge second
Key players: Kearsarge – Jake Bears (42), Solomon Neuwirt (44), Will Chadwick (45), Sean Higgins (48)
Highlights/key moments: The Cougars (179) split a match at Apple Hill, losing to Lebanon (166), but topping Sanborn (181).
Coach’s quote: “We get a couple of different bounces, it could’ve been a different match. There were very consistent scorers between the teams.” – Kearsarge’s Dennis O’Connor
Records: Kearsarge 15-5
Bow first
Key players:Bow – Doug Champagne (2-under 34, co-medalist), Ronan Lucey (37), Colin Plumb (41), Collin Cook (43); Gilford – Grant Workman (34, co-medalist)
Highlights/key moments: The Falcons (155) remained undefeated with decisive victories over Gilford (176) and Winnisquam (185) at Den Brae.
Coach’s quote: “Our next match is a big one against Derryfield (16-0) and Lebanon (13-1).” – Bow’s Mike Seraikis
Records: Bow 21-0
Hopkinton second
Key players: Hopkinton – Nick Fairneny (40, medalist), Ryan Hughes (career-best 48), Trent Gagnon (48), Larsen Burack (49)
Highlights/key moments: The Hawks (185) split a match on their home course at Country Club of New Hampshire, falling to Mascenic (181), but defeating Farmington (203).
Coach’s quote: “We had a lot better team consistency. All guys shot better than how we had been playing.” – Hopkinton’s Dave Chase
Records: Hopkinton 10-9