HOPKINTON – When they fell behind by one with 19 minutes left, it didn’t look good. When the deficit grew to two with 11 to play, Wednesday’s field hockey quarterfinal, and Hopkinton’s season, felt over.
The Hawks, however, believed.
“I knew it wasn’t good,” Hopkinton’s Lyndon Flanagan said, “but we never gave up.”
Flanagan scored twice in the final six minutes, the equalizer coming with just 35.5 seconds on the clock to send an amped group of Hawks to overtime. And Flangan found the golden goal eight minutes into the extra session with a one-on-one charge to the cage, sending No. 7 Hopkinton (10-5) into the quarterfinals with a 4-3 win over No. 10 Mascoma (7-7-1).
“Lyndon will just go at the goal. She wants that goal, and she’s going to go at it, but it doesn’t happen without these guys,” Hopkinton Coach Kate Hohenberger said, gesturing to the team around her. “That’s what we have on this team, we have the kids that make the plays happen.”
That includes freshman Katie Meserve, who gave Hopkinton a 1-0 lead 14:02 into the first half off a penalty corner. And it definitely includes playmakers Amelia Thomas and Chloe Wood, both sophomores like Flanagan, who powered the Hawks throughout the game and played major roles in the scoring.
Thomas drove not one but two balls toward the Mascoma cage to set up Meserve’s goal, which gave the Hawks a lead they took into halftime.
The Royals came out of the break hungry, pressuring for an early second-half goal and getting one from Katie Pushee seven minutes into the half, despite the efforts of Hopkinton goalie Emmy Campbell, who finished with 12 saves, several on the spectacular side. About three minutes later, Kayla Hammond’s goal off a penalty corner pushed Mascoma’s lead to 2-1. And Justine Martin made it 3-1 with 11:12 left on the clock.
Hopkinton’s Thomas immediately began hunting for a way back, and she helped create one with six minutes to play when she dribbled into the circle to earn a penalty corner, and off that set play she a hammered a ball to the cage that Flanagan eventually put home to make it 3-2 with 5:39 left to play.
“I was certainly nervous, but I never had a doubt that they know how to control the ball and they knew how to do it,” Hohenberger said.
The nerves grew as they one-goal deficit lingered in the waning moments, but Thomas’s effort earned another penalty corner that eventually led to a drive from Wood. Flanagan again found a way through the scrum in front to the back of the cage, and the Hopkinton sideline erupted at the miracle escape with only 35.5 seconds to spare.
Overtime was practically a relief for the Hawks, who had won all three of the overtime games they were in during the regular season.
“Overtime was kind of natural for us,” Flanagan said. “We know how it all works and it’s just really exciting to be able to play on Saturday (in the quarterfinal). I know we really wanted this for our Coach Con.”
That would be Patty Connolly, who had been Hopkinton’s coach for the last 12 years but stepped aside this season to care for her husband, Gene, the former Concord High principal who is battling ALS.
Flanagan needed all the inspiration, and energy, she could muster as she went out for the 7-on-7 overtime with Thomas, freshman Avery Barrett and the defensive trio of Isabel Tobin, Clara Walling and Carley Kanter, who were solid all game.
Flanagan had a pair of breakaway opportunities thwarted by Mascoma defender Haley Bissonnette early in the overtime, but on the third try Flanagan deked by Bissonnette and pushed a shot past goalie Abby Duhaime (four saves) and into the corner of the cage after 8:16 of overtime.
“I was ecstatic,” Flanagan said.
Hopkinton’s reward is a quarterfinal date Saturday at 2 p.m. with No. 2 Gilford (12-1-1), a team that beat Hopkinton, 3-0, on Oct. 1.
“They’re a very talented team and we have a lot of respect for the skill they have,” Hohenberger said. “But we’re going to work hard, put our best foot forward and go for it.”
D-III Field hockey
No. 11 Winnisquam 1
No. 6 Berlin 0
Highlights/key moments: Winnisquam pulled off the upset in Berlin, beating a team it lost to, 2-0, in the first game of the regular season. The Bears will travel to No. 3 Newfound on Saturday for the quarterfinals.
Records: Winnnisquam 8-6-1; Berlin 9-5-1
No. 5 Stevens 2
No. 12 Bow 1
Key players: Bow – Emma Roberge (goal), Dom Biron (four shots), Lizzie Pizzi
Highlights/key moments: Stevens scored with 4:24 left in the first half and took a one-goal lead into halftime. The Cardinals scored midway through the second half, but Roberge answered less than a minute later to pull her team back to within a goal. The Falcons had chances at a late equalizer but they couldn’t find the final touch.
Coach’s quote: “This was an entire team effort. The Bow Falcons played a great game and gave Stevens a good run for their money. I’m really proud to have coached this team this season. They are a great group of girls.” – Bow’s Tracy Berube
Records: Bow 7-8; Stevens 11-4
No. 8 Mascenic 5
No. 9 Franklin 2
Key players: Franklin – Lauren Pelletier (2 assists), Meghan Johnston (goal), Anna Sylvestre (goal), Lauren Marsh (assist), Jess Cilley (goalie); Mascenic – Jordin Babin (3 goals), Alannah Johnson (goal), Delaney Sauvola (goal)
Highlights/key moments: Making its first playoff appearance in 12 years, Franklin took a 1-0 lead with 6:23 left in the first half and then took a 2-1 lead early in the second half. Mascenic quickly tied the game at 2-2 and then slowly pulled away to advance to the quarterfinals.
Coach’s quote: “The girls worked very hard as a team to improve over the last four years and turn it around this year with the best regular-season record in years.” Franklin’s Deb Georgevits
Records: Franklin 8-7; Mascenic 9-5-1
No. 4 Pelham 4
No. 13 Bishop Brady 0
Key players: Bishop Brady – Emma Windsor (19 saves); Pelham – Shannon Weisensea (3 goals, assist), Abby Bevens (goal, assist)
Highlights/key moments: The Pythons held a 2-0 lead at half and advanced to a quarterfinal matchup with No. 5 Stevens.
Coach’s quote: “A little tough on the offensive end getting to the ball to capitalize. Tough to see the season come to an end.” – Bishop Brady’s Kelly Owen
Records: Bishop Brady 6-9; Pelham 13-2
Gilford 3, Kennett 0
Key players: Gilford – Karly Sanborn (11 assists, 8 aces), Naomi Eldridge (7 assists), Maggie McNeil (5 kills, 2 aces), Cynthia Gagnon (4 kills, 4 aces), Maddi Currier (4 kills), Lexi Boisvert (3 kills)
Highlights/key moments: Gilford won easily in 3 games 25-10, 25-5 and 25-7. Sanborn was 21-for-21 at the service line and Gagnon was 13for-14.
Coach’s quote: “We served 16 aces today and passed the ball very well. Both our offense and defense is coming together.” – Gilford’s Joan Forge
Records: Gilford 13-2; Kennett 0-15
Windham 3, John Stark 0
Highlights/key moments: The Jaguars remained undefeated with a 25-11, 25-12, 25-11 win at home.
Coach’s quote: “We struggled with all aspects of the game tonight and played with little to no emotion. Hopefully we learn from our performance and improve for Friday nights match.” – John Stark’s Jeff McClellan
Records: John Stark 11-4; Windham 15-0
Oyster River 3, Coe-Brown 0
Key players: Emma Dubois (7 kills), Amaya Newport (4 kills, 3 blocks), Shannon Riley (22 assists), Drew Ceppetelli (25 digs)
Highlights/key moments: Coe-Brown started well, but fell on the road, 25-23, 25-16, 25-19.
Coach’s quote: “The momentum shifted at the end of the first game and we never got it back.” – Coe-Brown’s Rick Veno
Records: Coe-Brown 9-6; Oyster River 9-6
Winnisquam 3, Inter-Lakes 1
Key players: Winnisquam – Shannon Goodwin (19 kills, 10 digs, 3 aces, 2 blocks), Talia DeBlasie (27 assists, 4 kills, 3 aces, 12 digs), Nicole Matcheski (7 kills, 2 aces, 6 digs), Aubrey St. Onge (9 digs, 3 assists), Madison Skeats (9 digs), Kerry Boyle (9 digs), Meghan Harmon (4 kills, 2 blocks, 3 aces, 4 digs), Gabby Isabele (12 digs), Rebekah Persson (4 digs, 3 aces); Inter-Lakes – Jessalyn Brown (36 assists, 13 digs, 4 service points), Amanda Kurowski (11 kills, 13 service points), Hailey Hart (10 kills, 9 service points, 9 digs), Rebecca Otis (19 digs)
Highlights/key moments: The Lakers, “played flawlessly in winning the first set, 25-14,” according to Inter-Lakes Coach Randy Mattson. But the Bears gained a little momentum at the end of that first set and carried it into the second for a 25-19 win. And Winnisquam made the key plays at the big moments at the end of the third and fourth sets to claim 25-23 and 25-22 wins. The win clinches the second seed for the Bears.
Coach’s quote: “The Lakers have played the top two ranked teams in Division III this week and have come close in both matches. I’m pleased with my team’s efforts in these tough games.” – Inter-Lakes’ Mattson
Records: Winnisquam 15-1; Inter-Lakes 11-4
H-D 3, Stevens 0
Key players: Hillsboro-Deering – Kristina Stevens (7 aces, 4 kills), Nicole Mooney (5 aces, 4 assists, kill), Eva Evans (6 assists), Catherine Montanez (4 aces, 3 kills), Amy Albert (4 aces, 2 kills), Lydia Powell (3 kills, assist)
Highlights/key moments: The Hillcats won at home to snap a four-game losing streak.
Records: Hillsboro-Deering 3-12; Stevens 0-15