WEARE – John Stark was in a state of disbelief.
The Generals allowed a late goal in the fourth quarter that tied their game against Lebanon on Friday. In the first overtime period, the game-winning goal waved off twice. The first call was merely because the continuation of play went too long, a fancy way of saying a judgment call.
Moments later on a corner opportunity, what John Stark and its fans thought was a good goal was taken off because of a procedural issue.
Those two almost-goals allowed Lebanon a chance and it took advantage, scoring off a corner in the second overtime to keep John Stark at home in 2-1 Division II quarterfinal.
John Stark (12-3-1) had more than its fair share of chances throughout the match. It was mostly dominant in both phases of the game. Its ability to cause turnovers in the middle of the field before the Raiders could advance any further, and then drive into its own offensive zone, brought ample amounts of shots on goal.
A highlight-reel moment of that strategy happened early in the second quarter, when the Generals forced a corner opportunity.
Gracie Bolduc received the send-in pass and, without hesitation, the senior fired off a shot that slammed into the back of the goal to give John Stark its 1-0 lead.
While that goal was the Generals’ only highlight on the scoreboard, offensively they produced even better chances in the back half of the game.
Bolduc and a cast of others continuously sent in shot after shot against the Lebanon defense, and each time they were rejected.
Individual efforts from the Raiders’ defense were a wrench in the Generals’ chances. The goalie would be out of net by a comfortable margin and a defender would close the gap, taking away what could’ve been empty-net opportunities.
Passing lanes began to get blocked, the turnovers at midfield dwindled and a tinge of frustration began to settle in.
Capped off by the two waved goals in the overtime period, John Stark’s final tough blow was losing defender Jackie O’Donnell to injury moments before the Raiders scored their game-winner.
The wrong kinds of cheers erupted, from those who made the 57-mile drive southeast on I-89. Immediately the reality that for some another season ended, and others a career has finished began to settle in.
“That was a tremendous game,” coach Dennis Pelletier said. “This type of game is amazing to see, the transformation that field hockey has made in this town.”
Pelletier, in his first season as the Generals’ main man, revitalized a program that historically has been an afterthought. It was hard for him to not notice that the middle school team was sitting on the hill watching the high schoolers play. He noticed there were more than just parents and loved ones there to watch, but teachers and a few students, too.
John Stark will graduate some of its best talent from this historic season, including Bulduc.
Pelletier is the process of building a foundation for John Stark and its field hockey community. Despite a loss, Friday’s quarterfinal match will be looked at as a large cornerstone for the Generals and something to build upon in the offseason.
Had they won the matchup against the fifth seed, they would’ve moved on to play No. 9 Goffstown who upset No. 1 Hanover, 2-1.
Instead, they’ll have to wonder about what could’ve been and how if a few things hadn’t happened, their dream of a state title would still be a reality.