John Stark field hockey was already having a record year and reached yet another milestone on Saturday. The No. 1 Generals (14-0-1) defeated No. 5 Hanover, 3-0, in Saturday’s quarterfinal in Weare to advance to Wednesday’s semifinals, the first final four appearance in program history.
Freshman Caylin Worthen scored in the first quarter and sophomore Jillian Fredette scored in the second, both on corners, to give John Stark a 2-0 halftime lead.
“Going back to our last game vs. Hanover (on Sept. 30), we knew that (corners) were going to play a huge role in today’s game,” John Stark head coach Dennis Pelletier said. “That was an integral part of our practice plan this week. In the fourth quarter (of the last game) we adjusted. We’ve scored on five of our last 10 corners (against Hanover).”
The Bears (9-6-1) had their best opportunities to score in the first quarter, and junior goalie Edie Fischer made all 10 of her saves in the first half.
Senior defender Reagan Fischer bailed out her younger sister late in the first quarter, making a great defensive save by knocking the ball out of the air with her stick to protect an open net.
But beyond that, the cage on John Stark’s end didn’t much action, as the defensive unit of Fischer, Emily Fredette, Adie Bolduc and Jackie O’Donnell did not allow a single Hanover shot on goal in the second half.
Junior Olivia Worthen added another goal in the fourth quarter, while Aubrey Fischer, Hailey Brisson and Lauryn Guevin had assists.
The Generals have already set a program record for most wins in a season (14), and a spot in Wednesday’s semifinals at Exeter’s Bill Ball Stadium is the farthest the team has ever advanced in the postseason.
John Stark will face No. 5 Hollis-Brookline (11-3-1) in the second D-II semifinal at 7 p.m. (No. 2 Souhegan and No. 3 Portsmouth will play at 5 p.m.).
The No. 5 Cavaliers are used to playing on a turf field – the surface at Bill Ball Stadium – and Hollis-Brookline used their speed and the quickness of that game to cruise to wins over Bow (7-2 late in the regular season) and Pembroke (4-0 in the preliminary round) in games played on turf, but John Stark also prides itself on its speed, something Pelletier has been commenting on since the preseason.
“I welcome playing on turf,” Pelletier said. “We have a highly skilled team that’s fast. We’re very cerebral and we welcome the opportunity. Our best games of the year have been played on turf – even though we play on a grass field (at home). I think turf shows player skill and ability better than grass does.
The Cavaliers are coming off a 1-0 victory on the road against No. 4 Kennett in Saturday’s quarterfinal.
John Stark defeated Hollis-Brookline, 5-0, in the second game of the season on Aug. 31.