SOUTH DEERFIELD – There were a few moments of apprehension for the Frontier Regional field hockey team when the fifth-ranked Red Hawks gave up a second quarter goal to visiting Stoneham in the Division 4 statewide tournament Round of 32 on Saturday.
The goal tied the game for the 28th-ranked Spartans. The team had life, the visiting fans cheered their team excitedly.
Frontier then came out of the intermission and brought an immediate end to the momentum, advancing with a 4-1 victory.
Frontier controlled play throughout most of the first half, but a momentary lapse allowed the visitors from Eastern Mass. to score on the Red Hawks.
“We talked about it at halftime,” Frontier coach Missy Mahar said. “We were dominating down at this end. [Stoneham] came down got a corner and one shot, one goal. We can’t allow that to happen going into a state tournament game. You have to play through every call, you can’t have any lull. That’s when another team capitalizes.”
Frontier put the game out of reach in the third quarter with three goals. Ashlie Galenski scored twice and had an assist in the frame for the Red Hawks.
“I just knew we needed to come together as a team,” Galenski said. “We were a little sloppy in the first half. Then we really came together with our passes. We played like we’ve been playing in the second half.”
Frontier advances to the Round 16 and will await the winner of No.12 Seekonk and No. 21 Carver. The game will be played in South Deerfield. Neutral locations begin in the Round of 8 of the tournament.
Macy DeMaio opened the scoring in the first quarter for Frontier. Elsa Brown assisted on the goal. Frontier has not won a state championship during Mahar’s tenure with the team.
“We need to play as a team and together,” DeMaio said. “It’s a passing game.”
The third quarter provided a blueprint for how to play for the remainder of state tournament play. The thought of a possible defeat ignited the team after halftime.
“We definitely came together,” DeMaio said. “We were fired up. We were not losing. Our season would have ended if we lost. We were definitely stepping to the 50-50 balls. We put in the effort.”
One area of concern for the Red Hawks might be the execution of the penalty corner. The Red Hawks forced 12 penalty corners. Frontier was 1-for-8 converting the chances in the first half.
“We always talk about the battery of people in the corner,” Mahar said. “You have your inserter, the stop and the hit. We said that those people need to take ownership for their role. We need to make it happen. It’s not just a gimme that the ball is going to go on net. Things need to happen and occur before. Obviously, it’s something we can work on. I think this was our worst game yet for corner execution.”
Addie Harrington added a goal a goal an assist for the Red Hawks. On Frontier’s first goal, a loose ball after a penalty corner found the stick of Brown. After Brown pushed it near net, DeMaio swiped it past the Stoneham goaltender for a 1-0 lead.
The second goal came when Harrington sent the ball in front of the net. After the pass passed through some traffic, Galenski was there to put the ball away to give Frontier a 2-1 lead.
The third goal occurred after a scrum following a penalty corner. Harrington collected the ball and gave Frontier a 3-1 lead. Galenski’s second goal came off a rebound in the third quarter.
Saint Mary’s 3, Belchertown 2 — Edith Audette’s two points (goal, assist) weren’t enough as the Orioles fell during the Round of 32 in the Division 3 state tournament.
Belchertown, the 24th seed, received 18 saves from Lila Roy, while Gianna Zenon also scored against the ninth-ranked victors.
“We represented [western Mass.] well,” Orioles head coach Dina Brunetti said. “I am proud.”
Sutton 5, South Hadley 0 — The Tigers were held off the board in their Round of 32 defeat in the Division 4 bracket.
South Hadley entered the match as the No. 29 seed, while the Suzies were the fourth-ranked squad.
MIAA Volleyball
Reading 3, Amherst 0 — The Hurricanes’ season came to a close at the hand of the Rockets in the Round of 32 of the Division 2 tournament.
Amherst, the 20th-seed, concluded the season 14-7.
Wahconah 3, South Hadley 0 — The ninth-seeded Warriors blanked the Tigers in the Round of 32 of the Division 4 tournament.
South Hadley, the 24th-seed, wrapped up its season at 10-6 overall.