Hopkinton and Bishop Brady met Thursday in a clash of highly-talented area field hockey teams, each with something to prove.
For the Hawks, it was that they belonged in the top of the standings. For the Giants, it was that even though they’re young, they can still hang around with some of the best.
Both of those points of emphasis were proven true in Hopkinton’s 4-3 win over Brady on Thursday.
For most of the game, it looked as if Hopkinton (10-0-0) would control it. Abby Condon and Rose Finlayson each scored in the first half for the Hawks, and with their 2-0 halftime lead mixed with Brady’s early offensive struggles, the potential for the game getting out of hand was present.
The Giants (6-3-0), however, began to turn things around after the intermission starting with Madison Noel, who scored their first goal just 1:28 into the fourth quarter. Cutting into Hopkinton’s 3-0 lead at the time – the Hawks’ Charlotte Presti scored with four seconds left in the third quarter – the Giants began an offensive surge.
A goal from Brady’s Libbey Hicks with 10:13 left in the game cut it to just a one-score margin, bringing everyone out of their lawn chairs and onto their feet.
Unfortunately for Brady fans, Presti temporarily gave them a reason to sit down after she scored her second of the game with 7:10 left. The Giants’ final attempt only lasted for a minute and 51 seconds behind Kimble Rose’s goal, but they ran out of time.
“The first five minutes of the fourth quarter was when we picked it up,” Brady coach Kelly Owen said.
“I’m pleased with today’s outcome because we are competing with the teams that are in the top, and that’s all I can ask for.”
Brady, which is the reigning Division III state champions, lost a lot of talent to graduation but has experienced rapid growth and development in 2021.
With four games left, including a rematch with the Giants, Hopkinton hopes to maintain the success its experienced.
“We take every game as the next challenge,” Hawks coach Kate Hohenberger said. “We embrace the challenge; we like that; we want it to be competitive.”
Hopkinton, after a Friday game against Newfound, plays next on Tuesday when it hosts Newport. Brady will travel to Mascoma Valley on Saturday for its next game.