WMass field hockey: Belchertown upends South Hadley, 3-1, for Class B title

WEST SPRINGFIELD — After seeing No. 1 South Hadley score to tie the game in the third quarter, No. 2 Belchertown’s Kian Roy only needed 30 seconds to respond in the Western Mass. Class B field hockey championship.

Following the score, Kian Roy received a pass from the center line to the left wing. He carried the ball all the way into the shooting circle. As the defense crashed towards him, he flicked his shot past Tigers goalie Caraghan Wartel.

“We had to get ourselves a little bit of a cushion,” Kian Roy said. “Right after that, I felt we got stronger as the game went on.”

Kian Roy turned and was immediately met by his Oriole teammates who embraced him for giving the team the 2-1 lead. His goal gave Belchertown the momentum it needed to hold of South Hadley and win 3-1 for the program’s first championship since 2022 and the first under head coach Dina Brunetti.

“I have left these playoffs in tears too many times, and now I leaves in tears again,” Brunetti said. “But they’re the best tears. This team is amazing and everyone single one of them contributed.”

Belchertown (11-3-4) entered the game as the underdog on paper, but the Orioles were the only team to beat South Hadley (14-2-1) in the regular season. The two teams split their season series and had an even goal differential of 3-3.

While Kian Roy scored the go-ahead goal, his two sisters played crucial roles in the win.

His twin sister Kina Roy scored the team’s first goal in the opening quarter. The junior intercepted a clearing pass from the Tigers and made decisive dribble moves around her defenders to get a clean shot on net.

“It was really what we needed,” Kina Roy said. “As soon as we put on in the back of the net, it gives us all the momentum we need. From there, I think the nerves were gone and we were able to play the game.”

The twins’ older sister, Lila, dominated in net. The senior made six stops and recorded her 300th career save. She made several kicks and dives to stop a typically strong South Hadley offense.

“I’m so fortunate to play with both of them,” Kina Roy said. “Lila is so strong in net, and Kian is awesome to play up on the field. I’m sad this is my last year with (Lila), but I’m glad we got the championship done.”

Senior captain Addie DiBona scored in fourth quarter for good measure to put South Hadley away. DiBona is one of the seniors that has been on varsity for all four of Brunetti’s seasons at Belchertown.

Since its last title, Belchertown fell short of another championship by losing in the tournament in each of the previous three seasons. The Orioles fell to Southwick in the championship in 2024, and in the semifinals last fall.

“We’ve worked all season to make it to this point,” Kian Roy said. “I’m so proud of everyone. We all contributed.”

While South Hadley loses in the championship for the second straight year, the program’s quick ascent from dropping to junior varsity program to a 14-win season in two years is faster than anybody could have expected.

“I knew we had a strong group coming through,” South Hadley head coach Nicole Casolari said. “But I figured we’d be working up to this moment. We have the same group who knows who it felt last year, and so they are feeling it bit harder this year.”

Junior Lily Harrington scored the lone goal for South Hadley early in the third quarter to tie the game. Her shot came from inside the circle and deflected off a defenders stick for the goal.

Wartel also made six saves for South Hadley. The senior is one of three who have been on varsity since 2022, when the program won just a single game before transitioning to junior varsity the following year.

“They’ve felt the defeat of a season with mostly losses,” Casolari said. “They felt the regrowth. The fact we’ve been knocking on the door of this Western Mass. championship is bittersweet. My heart’s feeling for them because they were hungry for this.”

Both teams hope to use Saturday’s final as a catapult into the state tournament. Entering the championship, Belchertown sat 30th in the Div. 3 rankings and South Hadley ranked 13th in Div 4.