Hopkinton senior Paige Boudette recently switched from the back line to striker. Most players would struggle to adjust, but Boudette instead led a second-half surge with two goals that broke open a tight game.
The Hawks (7-2-2) dominated possession and pace of play over the Giants (5-5-1), who held their own but struggled to find the net.
Sophomore midfielder Sadie Serzans opened the scoring with a long shot from outside the box that nestled into the top corner.
Boudette’s two goals came in the second half after receiving, controlling and finishing clever passes from her teammates. Her goals sealed the win comfortably, and she said she has found her rhythm up top to score for the Hawks.
“Just getting the learning curve and working as a team,” she said about her adjustment. “Having my teammates communicate with me helps a lot.”
Senior captain Annie Morrall said that the team is especially close and has improved its communication as they have a lot of seniors who have played together on varsity.
“I think we have fire, and I think a lot of teams don’t know what’s coming to them,” Morrall said.
Hopkinton coach Mike Zahn said the mental composure and confidence that his team has shown have kept them rolling. The Hawks have already played many of the top teams in Division III, he said, and winning the remaining matches will be crucial to getting to the playoffs in good spirits.
Despite the scoreline against Hopkinton, Bishop Brady has taken big strides this season. Under the new leadership of head coach Alex Hunton, the team has more than doubled its win total from last season.
He explained that the team has improved, but is still not ready to challenge the top five teams for wins. He is confident they can take these losses in stride and focus on what’s ahead.
Working on fundamentals, first touches, and consistently connecting on short passes, along with finer details, will slowly lead to more consistent play, he said.
“We’re proud of where we’ve come so far. Especially compared to last year,” Hunton said. “And the atmosphere is good, the girls are enjoying playing together.”
The Hawks will return home with the win and host Mascoma (3-6) on Oct. 10 at 3:30 p.m.
Bishop Brady will host Inter-Lakes (0-9-1) with a chance to win in hopes of reaching the playoffs.