CONCORD – Tuesday’s matchup between Hopkinton and Concord Christian featured two programs with quite different histories behind them: The Hawks, the defending Division III champions who’ve annually produced one of the strongest programs in the state, and CCA, in its first year as a varsity program. Yet both sit near the top of the D-III standings as the regular season winds down.

On Tuesday, the more experienced Hawks prevailed, 18-10, catapulted by a 5-0 start to the game. 

Katie Brown led the way with seven goals, and Sarah Chodosh added five. Sydney Westover secured six draw controls in the circle.

Meanwhile, Sarah Muir tallied four goals and one assist for CCA; Megan Muir had one goal and three assists.

Here are three notes on where both teams sit as the regular season rolls into its final week:

Hopkinton’s improvement in the draw control circle has the Hawks flying high

In order to run offense, you need to possess the ball; in order to possess the ball, you need to win draw controls. In Hopkinton’s season-opening 19-8 loss to Bow, winning the draw control was a highly problematic endeavor. 

But against CCA, Westover’s ability to win draws allowed the offense to start fast and sustain itself.

“Sydney Westover has been huge on the draw possessions for us,” co-head coach Gus Madden said. “And that’s not just her. The middie, Katie Brown, Ava Burns, Sarah Chodosh on the circle, they make the difference in winning those ground balls so we could get possession.”

That success parlayed itself into one of the more comprehensive performances Madden’s seen from the team all season.

“This was a game we had circled on our schedule as a tough game all year,” Madden said. “We played some teams on par with (Concord Christian), and we haven’t put it together as well as we did today.”

Sarah Chodosh helps guide the way for the Hawks

Hopkinton’s second-leading scorer on Tuesday with five goals, Chodosh found herself in the middle of the action throughout the afternoon. But her value to the team extends beyond her in-game stats.

“Sarah has a great attitude, she has all the skills, she understands the game,” Madden said. “She’s the one that leads the charge, finds the hole and everybody sort of follows her through the hole.”

A junior, this is her first season playing as a midfielder after previously playing as an attacker. The move means more responsibilities on the field, especially when it comes to the amount of ground she needs to cover.

That transition has worked out quite well.

“She’s totally risen to the occasion and been a presence on both sides of the ball,” Madden said.

Concord Christian knows it’s better than what it showed

CCA (7-4) entered Tuesday evenly matched with Hopkinton (9-3) – at least in the standings. But the early hole the team dug itself into proved too steep to climb out of.

Hopkinton’s lead shrunk to four late in the first half, but that was the closest CCA came.

“Our defense seemed to get a little lost, and there was some clogging up, losing sight of a player and the ball,” head coach Janine Muir said. “The first three that they let in, I think that just got in their head a little bit.”

Still, for a team poised to make the playoffs in its first year as a varsity program, it’s better to learn these lessons now with a few more games in hand than in the playoffs where an uncharacteristic performance could end the season.

“There’s a chance that we’ll wind up potentially having a rematch in the playoffs, so that might hopefully be the chance for our girls to prove how they can play,” Muir said.

In the meantime, CCA will look to get back on track in its final four regular season games, starting with Derryfield on Wednesday.

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