SOUTH DEERFIELD — In a rematch of last season’s Western Mass. Class A championship game, the Frontier Regional field hockey stormed back to beat Longmeadow, 4-2, on Tuesday afternoon.
The Lancers jumped out to a 2-0 lead on the Redhawks. With just seconds remaining in the first half, Frontier forced a flurry of penalty corners. Amelia Bouchard eventually found the net with time expired to get Frontier on the scoreboard going into halftime of the Suburban league match up.
The goal gave the Frontier a much-needed jolt of momentum.
“We talked about it at halftime,” Frontier coach Missy Mahar said. “There’s another half. Just being able to come back and compete at a better level than what they were demonstrating. I think they had those first game nerves. But they settled down… they definitely came out in the second half and capitalized on opportunities.”
Michaela Sloan of Frontier battles for possession against Longmeadow, Tuesday in South Deerfield. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Harper Modestow of Frontier tries to advance the ball against Longmeadow, Tuesday in South Deerfield. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Brynna Fahey of Frontier tries to work out around the defense of Longmeadow, Tuesday in South Deerfield. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Rowan Reilly of Frontier moves the ball up the field against Longmeadow, Tuesday in South Deerfield. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
The Frontier Regional field hockey team celebrates after scoring against Longmeadow, Tuesday in South Deerfield. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Elsa Brown of Frontier looks to make a play against Longmeadow, Tuesday in South Deerfield. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
The Frontier Regional field hockey team celebrates after a win against Longmeadow, Tuesday in South Deerfield. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo
The Redhawks rode the momentum into the second half with three more goals to get the win over the Lancers. Bouchard plays defense but moves into offensive sets for penalty corners. The clock cannot save a team during its defense of a penalty corner, and Frontier took full advantage.
“We always say play to the whistle, not the horn,” Bouchard said. “Which usually we forget to do. But luckily, we didn’t that time. Getting the ball in the back of the net really helped our momentum start going. That really pushed us and gave us some power to get us the win.”
Starting forward Haly Doucette-Kaplan missed the game due to illness. Frontier had four different players find the net.
“Our whole team is pretty interchangeable,” Bouchard said. “We can put anyone in any position, and everyone can get the job done.”
Frontier scored three of its four goals on penalty corners. The Redhawks forced 11 penalty corners in the game. Execution of those plays is a point of emphasis for the team.
“Everyone has to take ownership of their role,” Mahar said. “It starts with the person inserting the ball, to the person that stops it. We look at them as golden opportunities in games. When you get those opportunities, you want to execute and at least get a shot off.”
Frontier lost, 4-0, to Longmeadow in the sectional championship game last season before its run all the way to the state championship final.
“It feels great,” Bouchard said. “It’s a great way to start our season.”
With 12 minutes, 33 seconds left in the third quarter, Frontier tied the game. Rowan Reilly inserted a penalty corner to Bouchard who found Bella Orrell for Frontier’s second goal.
Later in the quarter, Addie Harrington charged down the right side of the field before sending an immaculate cross to Brynna Fahey, who buried the opportunity in front of the net. Reilly found Elsa Brown in the fourth quarter, giving Frontier a 4-2 lead with 10 minutes remaining in the game.
While protecting the lead, Brooke Charest had to make a few frantic saves to keep Longmeadow from scoring. In the fourth quarter, Charest went horizontal in an effort to keep the Lancers out of the net. Charest finished with seven saves for Frontier.
Sophia Hastings scored for Longmeadow, with an assist coming from Dylan O’Malley. Longmeadow’s second goal came from Gianna Sterner from Jenna Seeley. Emma Brunette made 18 saves for the Lancers.
The Frontier defense did well in limiting opportunities, giving up nine shots and only three penalty corners. Frontier reeled off 22 shots.
Mohawk 1, Northampton 0 — The Warriors went on the road and picked up a win over the Blue Devils in an independent match up. Libby Amstein scored for the Warriors, with an assist coming from Hailey Martin. Mohawk (1-0) forced 11 penalty corners and gave up only five. Brynlee Purington didn’t see much action in net for the Warriors, as Mohawk controlled field position for most of the game. Mohawk hosts South Hadley on Friday.
Boys cross county
Mohawk 22, Mahar 33; Mahar 23, St. Mary’s 32 — The Senators grabbed a win against the Saints but lost to the Warriors in an independent meet at Stanley Park in Westfield. Leo Boltz (20:43) and Xerxes Law (22:36) were first and second, respectively, for the Warriors. Isiah Whitmore grabbed a third place (22:58) finish for the Senators, while Michael LaPlante took fifth (23:33).
Girls cross country
In a home meet against Hampshire Regional and Granby, Pioneer Valley Regional’s Harper Hake finished in fourth place against some of the best runners in Western Mass., but the time was significant for Hake. The time (18:57) set a new school course record for the Panthers. Hake’s time eclipsed Natalie Hale’s record set in 2013 (19:03). Pioneer did not have enough runners to have a team score.
Girls soccer
Smith Vocational 5, Franklin Tech 1 — The Vikings were too much for the Eagles in an independent match up in Northampton. Faythe Sobieksi scored for the Eagles, with an assist coming from Layla Hammond. Sheyenne Ballentine made 11 saves for Franklin Tech (0-1).
Greenfield 7, Smith Academy 3 — The Green Wave trounced the Falcons at home in an independent match up. Greenfield took a 5-0 lead into halftime. Zephyr Jetzon led the offense with four goals. Tayler Bergeron had two goals and three assists. Sarah McCloud played set up with three assists and added a goal of her own for the Green Wave. Valerie Bzomowski made four saves in net for Greenfield.
Boys soccer
Pioneer 3, Mohawk 1 — The Panthers got two goals from Brody Welcome in the win over the Warriors in a Tri-County North match up in Buckland. Hayden Girard also scored for the Panthers. Bob Feury scored for the Warriors.
Golf
Frontier 162, Amherst 170 — Frontier’s Jamie McCarthy shot a 37 in the win over the Hurricanes at Cherry Hill Golf Course in a Suburban league match up. Christian Powell continued his hot start, carding at 38 in the victory for Frontier (2-2)
Westfield Tech 168, Mohawk 180 — The Tigers outlasted the Warriors at the County Club of Greenfield in Bi-County East play. Conner Bergeron shot a 38 for the Warriors. Sam Mizula added a 46, with Jacob Richardson carding a 47 for Mohawk (0-4).
Smith Vocational 174, Pioneer 175 — The Vikings edged the Panthers (0-4) by a single stroke at Northfield Golf Course in Bi-County East play. Weston Jones shot a 42 for the Panthers. Parker Gerry carded a 43.
