It was a long four quarters, an exhausting overtime period, and a heartbreaking second overtime for Hopkinton.
Mascenic’s Hailey Saari broke free on a long run from midfield and slotted the game-winner out of reach, ending the game 3-2.
No local teams will play in the Division III field hockey state finals now that No. 2 Hopkinton fell to the third-seeded Mascenic Vikings in the semifinal round at Bill Ball Stadium in Exeter. The Hawks had faced the Vikings at the start of the season and won comfortably, 6-0. This game was a complete flip of the script and a much bigger challenge on both ends of the field.
“They are fast and skilled, and we knew that they were going to take it to us if we weren’t prepared,” Mascenic head coach Selena Shaw said. “We were prepared this time.”
Although the Hawks couldn’t pull off the win, head coach Kate Hohenberger was proud of her team’s performance throughout the season.
Four years removed from winning the state championship and in its first return to the final four since 2021, the Hawks team found themselves in unfamiliar territory.
“I don’t think this game was difficult. I think it’s a matter of changing surfaces. It’s a different atmosphere,” Hohenberger said.
Hopkinton started strong and fired off seven shots on target before going ahead early with a strong shot from the edge of the circle by junior forward Autumn Meier one minute into the second quarter.
As the game wore on, Hopkinton’s offense slowed and Mascenic’s momentum grew. Through three quarters, the Hawks’ backline seniors, Maddie Dwyer and Emma Pelletier, and freshman Sophia Swett, along with sophomore Sadie Pelletier, held them scoreless. However, in the fourth quarter, the game changed.
“I think what carried our team this year a lot was our defense, and our midfield worked really hard this year,” Hohenberger said.
Mascenic earned two corners within the first seven minutes of the fourth and converted from both. Sophomore midfielder Scarlet Neilson and junior midfielder Kiahna Farrey scored for Mascenic and applied the pressure.
Hopkinton was forced to push for an equalizer, now down 2-1, and Meier came through again with a long run through the defense to score with two minutes remaining.
Saari’s game-winner came on a counter-attack with six minutes remaining in double overtime. She slotted it just out of reach for Hopkinton goalie Heidi Archambault, who saved 12 shots to keep the Hawks alive through regulation.
