WEARE – Friday’s final score was a repeat from the first match between John Stark and Hanover, but the encore was an amplified version of the original.
“I think the intensity was triple,” Stark senior Brooke Shatney said. “We came into this so much more excited and so ready to win, especially on our own turf.”
Shatney made sure that happened with a brilliant free-kick goal in the 45th minute as the Generals beat defending-champion Hanover, 1-0, and upped their record to a perfect 8-0. It was just the second loss of the season for the Marauders (6-2), the first one coming 17 days ago in Hanover when Shatney scored the game’s only goal in double overtime.
“Yeah, they were more intense, too,” said Shatney, who will play at Franklin Pierce next year. “I think they were a little mad we beat them at home. They wanted payback.”
It looked like payback was on the menu early in the game as the Marauders earned the first two corner kicks, took the first two shots and had the run of play for the opening 20 minutes. But the Stark defense – anchored by Meg Blanchette, Jocelyn Dimond, Abigail Brandt and Eryn Bennetter – never allowed a shot on net.
Since giving up a goal in the opener against Con-Val, the Generals have posted seven straight shutouts. And that’s with Dimond moving from her forward spot of previous years to a central defensive position this season. And with Brandt moving back from midfield to plug a defensive hole on the wing.
“We were focused on communicating and working as a unit, and I think we accomplished that,” Stark Coach Heather Doucette said. “There was some great work done by Meg Blanchette in the back. Most of my defenders are brand new or hurting, and they all did a great job.”
The Generals gained control of the game in the latter stages of the first half as Shatney and Cara Easter took over the midfield.
“We basically wanted to win the 50-50 balls, don’t let them beat us to anything and stay tough,” said Easter, who played just like that, hard-nosed and relentless.
Five minutes into the second half, Stark earned a free kick just outside the penalty box after Sara Nikias, Aria Ulmer and Morgan Hawkes helped push the play forward. The Generals didn’t follow their usual free kick routine, and the change worked.
“Usually (Blanchette) takes our free kicks, but I felt like I had a little spark,” Shatney said. “I wanted to score so bad.”
She got what she wanted, curling the free kick just inside the near post and past Hanover’s diving keeper, Mahler Meyerrose.
Fifteen minutes later, Shatney had a chance to double the lead with a penalty kick given after Hawkes was pulled down in the box. Shatney buried it, but the kick was called back because a General crashed into the box before the kick. On the retry, Shatney didn’t hit it true and the ball ran wide.
“I thought the goalie knew where I went last time and I tried to switch it up,” Shatney said, “but that wasn’t my brightest idea.”
The miss didn’t haunt the Generals, who stopped all of Hanover’s late pressure before it grew dangerous.
“We were looking forward to this all week and preparing for them,” Easter said. “They’re our biggest competition, the one to take down for us.”
(Tim O’Sullivan can be reached at 369-3341 or at tosullivan@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @timosullivan20.)
Newport 4, Bishop Brady 1
Key players: Bishop Brady – Olivia Crainich (goal), Misty Zaczyk (midfield)
Highlights/key moments: Brady got some amazing saves from Mackenzie Wetherhill and great shots from Dana Fahey and Maddie Boyer, but couldn’t solve the Tigers.
Coach’s quote: “The effort from the girls was there from start to finish today.” – Bishop Brady’s Andrew Mattarazzo
Records: Bishop Brady 1-4; Newport 3-4
Hopkinton 3, Raymond 1
Key players: Hopkinton – Jacob Rockwood (2 goals), Joe Cullinan (goal, assist), David West (assist), Tucker Windhurst (defense)
Highlights/key moments: Rockwood missed the first seven games of the season recovering from an injury, but he made the most of his rehab stint against the Rams with a pair of goals.
Coach’s quote: “We played really well tonight against a very defensive-minded Raymond squad.” – Hopkinton’s Scott Zipke
Records: Hopkinton 7-1; Raymond 3-5-1
Bow 3, Coe-Brown 2
Key players:Bow – J.P. Merchan (2 goals), Max Elsasser (goal, assist), Noah Bult (solid in net). Coe-Brown – Donald MacCallum (goal), Mike Mulligan (goal), Mitchell Wade (solid midfield play, assist), Ethan Barbeau (assist), Zack Pine (8 saves)
Highlights/key moments: After trailing 2-0 just eight minutes in, Bow fought back with a goal in 15th minute and the tying goal two minutes before halftime. Merchan scored the go-ahead goal two minutes into the second half to boost the Falcons above .500 for the first time this season.
Coach’s quote: “A great character win! Many teams would have folded the tent and left early for the weekend. We withstood the early Coe-Brown tsunami and came away with the victory.” – Bow’s George Pinkham
“It turned into a very physical game and that can really disrupt our rythym.” – Coe-Brown’s Christian Gompert
Records: Bow 5-4; Coe-Brown 4-4-1
Bishop Brady 20, Winnisquam 12
Key players: Bishop Brady – Sean Sullivan (2 INT, TD), Aidan Plumpton (TD catch), Moses Murenzi (TW run), Cody Hill (defense), Rich Sullivan (defense)
Highlights/key moments: Sean Sullivan jump started Brady with a long kickoff return and three plays later Joe Bernard hit Plumpton with a 10-yard touchdown pass. A 28-yard run from Murenzi gave Brady a 14-0 lead late in the first quarter and Sullivan made it 20-0 with a 65-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Coach’s quote: “We have some definite improvements we need to make and we saw that in the second half tonight. We need to keep our eyes forward and our foot on the gas.” – Bishop Brady’s Matt Shaw
Records: Bishop Brady 3-1; Winnisquam 2-2
FIELD HOCKEY
Souhegan 4, MV 0
Key players: Merrimack Valley – Grace Montgomery (wing), Lauryn Masse (defense)
Coach’s quote: “We need to find that ‘Yes we can!’ attitude and keep it with us for 60 minutes.” – Merrimack Valley’s Kim Kenney
Records: MV 2-5; Souhegan 7-2
Franklin 2, Pembroke 1, OT
Key players:Franklin – Meghan Johnston (goal), Lauren Pelletier (goal), Hailey Haskins (assist), Riley Haskins (midfield), Emma Lapierre (defense); Pembroke – Alysse Cleasby (goal), Taylor Monterio (assist), Kelly Wagner (midfield), Michaela Dupuis (defense), Cierra Clark (defense)
Highlights/key moments: Johnston’s goal at 20:14 of the first half gave Franklin a 1-0 lead. The Spartans tied things in the second half with Cleasby’s goal, which came off a penalty corner. The Golden Tornadoes ended it when Haskins flicked a pass to Pelletier at the post for a pretty one-time goal.
Coach’s quote: “The team is gaining confidence as the season progresses … A great win to even our record.” – Franklin’s Deb Georgevits
“Our team is really starting to read each other and it shows in their passing game” – Pembroke’s Aimee Monterio
Records: Franklin 4-4; Pembroke 1-6-1
Bishop Brady 4, John Stark 1
Key players:Stark – Mercedes Camacho (goal), Olivia Fatcheric (assist). Brady – Ciara Labbe (goal), Ivory Story (goal), Kat Gallagher (goal), Paige Blake (goal, assist), Abby Tremblay (two assists), Lauren Roy (assist), Emma Windsor (2 saves)
Highlights/key moments: Brady scored all four of its goals in the first half and held off Stark in the second half with solid defense.
Coach’s quote: “Definitely a frustrating game for us. We had some chances but in the end, Brady outworked us today and deserved to win.” – Stark’s Dennis Pellitier
“The girls played together as an overall unit today. Everyone had a role today and it all came together.” – Brady’s Kellie Owen
Records: Stark 1-7; Brady 2-6
VOLLEYBALL
Concord 3, Bedford 0
Key players: Concord – Bekah Jauhola-Straight (7 kills, 3 aces, 7 digs), Caitlyn Shea (22 assists), Lauren Hatch (11 kills)
Highlights/key moments: The Crimson Tide stayed undefeated with an impressive 25-16, 25-8, 25-9 win on the road. Concord had a few shaky moments with ball control, but that changed when Brenna Vandersea re-entered the game and took control on defense.
Coach’s quote: “This is a very balanced team between strong defensive abilities and powerful offensive players. Our success thus far is due to this balance and the work-like approach the players have every match.” – Concord’s Jonathan Flower
Records: Concord 8-0; Bedford 5-4
John Stark 3, Hanover 0
Key players: John Stark – Nicole Yelle (24 assists, 6 aces) and making the offense run; Sydney Story (4 kills, block), Hannah Chartier (9 aces, 5 kills), Sarah Wagner (4 kills, 2 blocks), Cassidy Gilman (7 kills)
Highlights/key moments: The Generals cruised to a 25-15, 26-24, 25-12 win, their six straight. Stark trailed, 24-22, in the second game before Chartier served it out.
Coach’s quote: “Tonight’s match was all about the team having confidence and playing with great emotion.” – John Stark’s Jeff Mclellan
Records: John Stark 6-1; Hanover 1-6
Winnisquam 3, Mascoma 0
Key players: Winnisquam – Talia DeBlasie (21 assists, 4 kills, 12 aces), Shannon Goodwin (12 kills, 2 digs), Nicole Matcheski (4 digs, 4 aces, 2 kills), Meghan Harmon (6 aces, 4 kills), Madison Skeats (3 digs, 2 kills), Aubrey St. Onge (6 digs), Olivia Doubleday (3 kills, 3 aces)
Highlights/key moments: The Bears stayed perfect with a 25-4, 25-11, 25-4 win at home.
Records: Winnisquam 6-0; Mascoma 1-5