Scholastic Notes

New England region

Rhode Island

DELUCA STRIKES FOR WOONSOCKET IN EARLY CONFRONTATION

Woonsocket (R.I.) has been waiting to avenge its Rhode Island state playoff loss to South Kingstown (R.I.), to the point where parents actually called in sick for the team's meeting in late September.

And the Villa Novans didn't disappoint.

In a thrilling regular-season match that went down to the last 20 seconds of extra time, Gina DeLuca's goal in the 66th minute of play to give Woonsocket a 3-2 win.

DeLuca's goal in the extra period was a product of long hitting and open space provided in the 7-v-7 format.

"It was, like, three long drives to get the ball downfield," Woonsocker head coach Pam Paige told The Woonsocket Call, "and Gina hit a long shot from the circle."

But it wasn't over; an open shot in the final seconds of the extra-time period flew wide of the cage, ending the match

"This is huge. They had revenge on their minds since last year," Paige told The Providence Journal.

TIVERTON GETS AN OBJECT LESSON

Even after Tiverton (R.I.) electrified its fans with a 4-1 win over Providence Wheeler School (R.I.) in the team's season opener, Ken Dias couldn't quite shake what happened after the Tigers opened the scoring in the game's fourth minute.

Wheeler came back off the hitback and scoring in just 51 seconds.

"With the exception of the 30 seconds after we scored our first goal, we played a very good game," Dias told The Fall River Herald-News. "We passed the ball very well and capitalized on our opportunities, especially in the second half. With the lack of penalty corners, we were able to convert off free hits."

But Tiverton was able to get corners aplenty in the first half, being awarded 15, and by the interval, the Tigers had a 3-1 lead.

New Hampshire

TIMBERLANE HOPING FOURTH-TIME LUCKY

The Class L championship final has been a familiar place for Plaistow Timberland Regional (N.H.). Indeed, the Owls have made the final for large schools for the past three years.

But the team has yet to win, leaving this team short 15 seniors from the 2003 finalists, but very long on optimism.

"It’s definitely a rebuilding year," Timberlane coach Mim Ryan tells The Rockingham News. "We have eight freshmen on this team; we’re rebuilding for the future and the future is bright."

The interesting aspects about the underclasswomen of the team is that the freshmen have a middle-school league title to work on, and that there is not a single sophomore on varsity.

"We want to consistently improve," Ryan says, "both individually and as a team."

CONCORD LOOKING TO GET HEALTHY

You can't help wondering if the Concord (N.H.) sidelines resemble a triage unit, what with all the bandages and salves being used even before the Tide have struck a ball with anger in a game that counts.

At least five players are out with various ailments, including a case of mononucleosis.

"With the injuries we've had this preseason, it's been hard to get something consistent going," head coach Lori Trefethen tells The Concord Monitor. "We've been plagued by injuries, but if we can recover from them ..." Trefethen said. "We have the ability (to play for the championship), it all depends on how we come together as a team."

Massachusetts

"MIRACLE ON GRASS" FOR REVIVED FRANKLIN TECH

Budget cuts in Massachusetts high schools have had more than their fair share of effects on school activities in a down economy.

Turners Falls Franklin County Technical (Mass.) saw its field hockey team cut in 2003, then revived for 2004 after much protestation.

But with less than a week to go before the state playoffs, Franklin Tech was a win away from qualifying for the Western Massachusetts regional tournament.

Winning the tournament is just a dream for the Eagles, what with Greenfield, Hatfield Smith Academy, and Frontier Regional awaiting. But just making the tournament, especially in the town derby with Turners Falls (Mass.) was just as special.

Turners Falls was winless, playing at home late in the season -- a perfect scenario for an upset. But Shannon Archambeault and Val Jurek scored before the interval and held on for dear life.

"I never thought this could happen," co-head coach Ken Lynes tells The Springfield Republican. "We don't know a lot about field hockey, but we coach chemistry. We picked up basic skills from other coaches and programs."

And a little heart, as well.

CONFERENCE REALIGNMENT SHUFFLES NORTH SHORE RIVALRIES

It's been a decade since Plymouth (Mass.) split its high schools into North and South campuses. At the time, the decision was made to keep the schools in two seperate leagues in order to keep lingering internecine rivalries from the split off the field of play. But that sometime meant that Plymouth North wouldn't play Plymouth South at all.

But starting this year, Plymouth South has left the Old Colony League to join the Atlantic Coast League, meaning that Plymouth North and Plymouth South will be playing each other at least once a year in all sports.

"Having one larger league eliminates some of the scheduling issues that we had," Plymouth district athletic director Doug White tells The Old Colony Memorial. "In the Atlantic Coast League, it was hard. With the field hockey league that had only four teams, it made it difficult to run the league."

But that's not the only change on the North Shore. The Patriot League expands in 2004 with the un-merging of Silver Lake-Pembroke into two separate school districts. They are now in opposite divisions.

"With the split with Silver Lake and Pembroke, it brings two strong schools in," Duxbury athletic director Thom Holdgate told The Memorial. "It also helps out the smaller schools in the West division."

WALPOLE WINS SHOOTOUT AGAINST DEDHAM

Walpole (Mass.) has played many important hockey matches at its home field, The Porker Pen. But against Division 2 state champion Dedham (Mass.), the match served as an early measuring stick of what needs to be done to get back to the form that has brought six state titles to Common Street.

The Porkers definitely have an attacking presence, given the team's 5-3 win over Dedham. But there is concern for the team's intensity.

"It's a 60-minute game everytime you play," Walpole coach Marianne Murphy tells The Dedham Daily News-Transcript. "We got two quick goals and they thought they were going to coast. You can't coast against Dedham, they have enough players that they will come right back at you and they have been in that situation before."

Hillary Zysk had given Walpole the lead at 41 seconds, then Kerianne Murphy added to the lead two minutes later.

The Mauraders tried to come back, but couldn't.

"Walpole played awesome, they were flying to the ball, they were all over the ball," Dedham coach Frank Barbuto told The Daily News-Transcript. "They deserved the win. I don't think my kids played bad, their kids were so well-coached. A lot of things that we like to do, we weren't able to do. It was a good game, there were just a couple of stretches where I thought we lost our composure."

WATERTOWN'S QUINN IS IN FORM

Alex Quinn has never been one to shy away from a good goal-scoring opportunity, and the first two games for Watertown (Mass.) provided a good launch torwards a third Division II title in four years.

Quinn had hat tricks in a 6-0 win over Wakefield (Mass.) and a 5-1 win against Winchester (Mass.). In fact, the hat trick in the Wakefield game was completed before the strike of the half-hour.

BARNSTABLE FILLS IN AN EMPTY SPACE

It was no ordinary season-opening field hockey for Barnstable (Mass.). One of its former field hockey captains, Kaitlin Silk, had died in March 2003 of arrythmia while studying at UConn.

Barnstable rededicated its field hockey and softball complex in Silk's name. Her family was there, and her father, Bob, made one last request before the opening match with Sandwich (Mass.) began.

“I want to see a ‘1’ under that BHS,” Silk said in the pre-game ceremony. “Go, Barnstable!”

And the Red Raiders did, as junior Kara McDonald scored the game's only goal.

“I think if you wanted to win one all season, this is the one,” coach Bess Doherty told The Barnstable Patriot after the match. “I think 'special' is an understatement for today.”

Vermont

HOPKINTON'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE

Amanda Travers could hardly wait for Hopkinton's season opener at Hinsdale (N.H.).

Fact is, she had to. A bus breakdown forced an hour-long delay in proceedings, by which time Travers was good and ready, scoring a hat trick in the Hawks' 5-0 win.

"Amanda has always been our top scorer," Hopkinton coach Patty Connolly told The Brattleboro Reformer. "But we played pretty well as a team. Both squads are young, so the game could have gone either way. But a victory is good for our spirits, and getting a win to start the season is always nice."

MAYNARD LISTENS WELL

Megan Maynard is your typical field hockey coach's daughter. Grew up with the sport, much less-steep learning curve, responds to coaching even when said coaching is not on the field.

So, whatever Harwood (Vt.) coach Barb Barnes-Maynard said during halftime of their match at South Burlington Rice Memorial (Vt.), it worked. She had a pair of goals in the second term to give the Highlanders a 2-nil win.

"We lacked communication in the first half," the younger Maynard tells The Barre Times-Argus. "Once we started calling for the ball and supporting each other ... we were able to get some breakaways and corners."

Maine

MAINE STATE FINALS HOLD FORM

It's not as though its 15-year drought between Class B state titles in Maine has been the stuff of books and legend, since Belfast (Maine) was favored to slip on the state crown after winning all 17 games its had played up to the championship match in Portland.

It did, however, take a stellar performance from Belfast's sophomore goalkeeper Liz Anderson to hold off a determined York (Maine) 2-1 in the state championship final. None of her dozen saves were as big as the corner blast from Michaela Franey in the final half-minute of play.

"My defense does a great job but I'm the last line of defense, when I do get scored on I feel like it was my fault. It has to get through everyone, but still it's my job," Anderson told Knox County Village Soup.

In Class A, Skowhegan (Maine) won its fourth consecutive championship, but it was not easy, as the Indians had to face unbeaten Standish Bonny Eagle (Maine). Bonny Eagle, looking to win its eighth state championship, had a number of outstanding results on its resume, but in the final, could not hold on to a second-half lead.

Skowhegan came back in the last 16 minutes thanks to a player who scored only her second goal of the season (Leah Provost in the 44th minute) and her 32nd of the year (Katy LePage in the 58th).

"This is sweet," she told The Portland Press-Herald. "I think this is even better (than the other titles). It´s your senior year and it´s that much more exciting."

The game turned on a neat adjustment by head coach Paula Doughty. She moved LePage from the attack line to the midfield, ensuring that she would be that dangerous attacking presence coming into the play later than her forwards, causing huge matchup problems.

In Class C, Bethel Telstar (Maine) won its first state championship in 26 years with a 6-0 win over Millinocket Stearns (Maine), which has never won a state championship.

And it wasn't as if the Rebels were going to allow Stearns much hope in its debut. They outshot the Minutemen 30-3 and had all six goals before the interval.

"It was like a dream," junior Kayla Mills told The Bangor Daily News. "Our passes were on and we scored every time we got into the circle. It was amazing. Everything happened like we wanted it to."

YORK GETS INSPIRATION TO MAKE STATE FINAL

Take one former member of the U.S. women's national team, a couple of dozen schoolgirls, and slogans from the Boston Red Sox.

York (Maine) is a team which is realizing its own impossible dream in 2004, after beating Naples Lake Region (Maine) 2-1 in the Class B West final after three consecutive years of losing out in that round. The team plays Belfast -- perhaps the finest team in the state -- to try to win its first state championship in field hockey.

"I can’t even begin to describe how happy we are," senior goaltender Chelsea Defeo tells Foster's Online. "Oh my God, we’ve been waiting for this for so long. We were all here, working together and it’s so good. It’s amazing.".

The team has used enterprising play and stalwart defense to overcome the opposition, and it was no different against Lake Region, which had tied the match in the ninth minute of play after taking the early lead.

But when Carie Rovnak scored in the 29th minute to give the Wildcats the lead again, the team hunkered down the entire second half and held Lake Region off, allowing just three shots the entire game.

York won't tell you they are a bunch of "idiots who don't think" on the hockey pitch, but Defeo has a similar explanation for her defense, which was led by Mary Beaman, Caitlin Keating, and Ginny Lee.

"They’re insane. I don’t know what I’d do without them," Defeo tells Foster's. "Mary, Ginny, all of them work so hard. They’re so awesome."

Keeping this "insane" group of girls together is head coach Barb Marois, who has done a remarkable job in her tenure as York head coach.

"It’s surreal," she said. "I’m not crying, the girls aren’t crying. I don’t know how my other teams thought, but with this group, they just do what they have to do, play with a lot of heart and come up big when they need to."

Just like a certain baseball team.

FROM DEFENSE TO OFFENSE IN NO TIME FLAT

When Skowhegan (Maine) and Gardiner (Maine) played each other for the first time in the 2004 season, the respective attacks were slowed, and it took an overtime goal for Gardiner to hand Skowhegan its only loss of the season.

The rematch, however, was a bonanza of offense, with momentum switches galore, which seemed to suit Skowhegan, which took a 5-3 victory over the Tigers.

"I think you could look at the score and say, 'Both the defenses played badly,' but I don't think that was true," Skowhegan head coach Paula Doughty tells The Kennebec Journal.

Instead, it was the lapse a team might feel when it gets an advantage on the other.

"We're always told that the five minutes after every goal is statistically when someone else is going to score," Skowhegan senior forward Katy LePage tells The Journal. "You just have to push yourself in those five minutes to not let them gain control."

DOWN A GOAL? DOWN A PLAYER? HOSTILE CROWD? NO PROB

Waterville (Maine) had a number of obstacles to overcome in a late September match against South China Erskine Academy (Maine).

Not the least of which was the way Waterville reacted to a controversial goal scored in the 28th minute.

On the play, Kristen Burke of Erskine Academy slammed the first shot on a penalty corner high into the cage. The lead official, after first disallowing the goal, reversed course and allowed the score.

The Purple Panthers were outraged, and two cards followed -- a yellow on the bench, followed by the sending off of Ashley Miller. The Panthers were down two players for the balance of the half, and would have at most nine field players for the rest of the match.

But Erskine would claim the lead in the 55th minute, only to lose it 21 seconds later. Waterville would then take the lead two minutes from time as Whitney Russo sent a bouncer through a maze of legs.

"Just the motivation I felt for my teammates, it was the perfect way to end the game, all pulling together," Russo told The Kennebec Journal. "It was a team goal."

BATTLE OF THE BRIDGE

The Frank J. Wood Bridge spans the Androscoggin River between Brunswick and Topsham near what used to be a factory.

But in 2004, the bridge spanned two field hockey teams with a combined 12 losses and six goals scored.

It took more than regulation to settle matters between Brunswick (Maine) and Topsham Mount Ararat (Maine), and Brittany Lemieux put in a neat cross three minutes into overtime to give Brunswick a 1-0 win, the Dragons' first of the season.

Connecticut

NEW MILFORD SHOCKS POMPERAUG WITH EARLY GOAL

For all of the competition within the state of Connecticut, there was at least one constant since the South-West Conference was formed.

Southbury Pomperaug (Conn.) would win it.

But a funny thing happened in 2004, in an autumn in which "Reverse The Curse" has been a sporting constant.

In the case of the SWC, it's New Milford (Conn.) which got a 10th-minute goal from senior Caitlin Duggan to give New Milford the championship for the first time.

"This is the best memory of my high school career," Duggan tells The Danbury News-Times. "It's beyond amazing."

The Green Wave not only handed Pomperaug its first loss of the season, it handed Darien the top seed in the state Class M playoffs. New Milford retained the second seed in Class L.

WAMAGO, SHEPAUG LEAVE IT FOR OCT. 15

As you might expect, things got tense and tentative when Washington Shepaug Valley (Conn.) and Litchfield Wamogo (Conn.) met in mid-September for what could be up to three meetings on the way to the Class S state final.

But neither team was willing to take a chance on getting that first loss. The teams managed a measly one shot on goal in the first half, and the teams ended in a goalless draw. The rematch is scheduled for Oct. 15.

"Both teams were feeling each other out in the first half and no one took charge," Shepaug coach Jaye Stuart tells The Register Citizen. "We had plenty of chances, but didn’t play hungry. This game was a good early-season lesson for us."

"With four freshmen and only one senior in our lineup, we are right where we should be," Wamogo head coach Mimi Duran told The Register Citizen. "We would’ve obviously liked to win, but we’re going in the right direction. The goals will come."

For last year's notes, click here.