Merrimack Valley sophomore Hannah Dubuc fired two crucial drives into the shooting circle. Both times, it found a well-placed teammate to score and secure the Pride a much-needed win.
Merrimack Valley (5-8-1) jumped two spots in the standings to 11th with two games to go in a hotly contested playoff race after the 2-1 victory over John Stark on Thursday.
Sophomore Alayna Weddall scored the first with a savvy finish on a rebound after Dubuc’s long shot hit the goalie’s pads. Her shot found the back of the boards early and the ensuing two quarters and a half were a constant battle for every inch between the Valley and Stark.
Dubuc was crucial in the middle to regain possession and quickly move the ball forward or to the wings for the Pride. She pushed to secure the win all game — she knew the Pride needed a win to keep its playoff hopes alive.
“If I can get through one person, I can get through another, and then I can get it in,” Dubuc said about her role. “This is a very big win for us and shows us we can do it.”
That first goal sank Stark mentally, head coach Cassidy Toms thought. The Generals were D-II runners-up in 2024 and semifinalists last year, but after the loss they sat at 6-7-1, 9th in the standings.
Toms said that to make a playoff push like in years past, they’ll have to conjure up effort from wire to wire. After a very long conversation with her team on the sidelines, many were still distraught by the loss.
“Now it’s really about not getting down on yourself, being more positive and lifting yourself up,” Toms said. “We got to push each other to be better and gain that confidence going into playoffs.”
As Stark pushed for an equalizer late, it got two penalty corners and had its best moments on attack. Senior Addison DeCew fired off multiple chances but none found the back of goal or a teammate to finish the chance.
Soon after a momentum swing seemed to favor an equalizer, Dubuc found sophomore Sami Piwoski in the circle for a tip-in that sealed the game. The 2-0 lead with only five minutes to go was out of reach.
Stark’s DeCew found her goal in the last minute, with 51 seconds left, but the quickly running clock favored the Pride.
The win was a culmination of the season’s long work by a very young Pride squad. With only one senior on the team, they’ve slowly built up on fundamentals and found their footing on offense.
Pride head coach Jen Colgan was happy to see the staunch defense and effort throughout the 60 minutes.
“Something we’ve been focusing on all season is just execution in the circle and capitalizing on those opportunities,” Colgan said.
