HOLYOKE — The Smith Academy field hockey team’s undefeated season was stopped short on Wednesday as the Falcons fell, 4-0, to Greenfield in the semifinals of the Western Massachusetts Division 2 Tournament.
The third-seeded Green Wave (14-5-1) put unrelenting pressure on No. 2 Smith Academy (16-1-3) whenever they got around the circle. In the end, the Falcons just had no answer to Greenfield’s offense.
“We came out here hoping to win,” Smith senior Karlie Guimond said. “Both teams played their hearts out. Greenfield played great. Ultimately, they just got more shots on goal and more of them went in.”
Greenfield opened up the scoring with 20 minutes, 5 seconds remaining in the first half when Lillia Kachelmeyer scored off of a Madyson Kuchieski assist.
Kuchieski went back on the scoresheet later in the first half by scoring an unassisted goal to give Greenfield a 2-0 lead entering halftime.
Just over 10 minutes into the second half, Kuchieski recorded her second assist when she connected with Racquel Provost for a goal.
Greenfield capped the scoring late in the second half when Amber Taylor scored on a Kaylah Eggsware assist.
“There was a lot of play up the middle,” Smith coach Dena Polverari said. “I don’t think a team necessarily dominated. We just didn’t put the ball in the back of the net and they did.”
Even if the team couldn’t find the back of the net, one thing that never wavered was how close the players are with each other. Even in defeat, the Falcons remained a unit on the field, never gave up or slowed down.
Off the field, they hugged and cried and remained together through it all. This was a team that went 15-0-3 during the regular season, a year removed from a 4-11-3 finish.
“The one thing with this team that stands out from game to game is just how together they are and how bonded they are,” Polverari said. “I think regardless of the score, that’s what carried us throughout the 60 minutes.”
Despite giving up four goals, freshman goalkeeper Hadley Szynal had a stable showing in goal. She made 10 saves, seven of which came in the second half.
“Hadley should be proud of herself,” Polverari said. “She’s a ninth grade goalie and she has a long ways to go and a lot more to learn.”
Guimond has been with the team since she was in seventh grade and in her time has experience some good and bad seasons. The Falcons would not have played in the semifinals if it wasn’t for Guimond, who scored the overtime goal against Turners Falls in the quarterfinals.
“It hasn’t really sunk in yet,” Guimond said. “It was six years of ups and downs and I’m just so glad I was able to go out positively and with an incredible season. It’s the end of an era but it’s not the end of my journey.”