PLAISTOW, N.H. – The draw for No. 7 Timberlane Regional was no gimme in the opening round of the Division I state field hockey playoffs.
No. 10 Merrimack, like the Owls, play its home games on real grass, so what might have been an advantage wasn’t for Timberlane.
In fact, the Tomahawks made themselves at home on Tuesday afternoon, stopping the host Owls, 1-0, to advance to Friday’s quarterfinals.
Allie Wyand’s second-quarter goal held up for Merrimack despite some fierce pressure by Timberlane in the second half.
“When we got the offensive corners, we’ve struggled all year long. We were doing all the right things, but we just couldn’t finish,” said Timberlane coach Jessi Paul, whose club finished up the year at 9-7-1.
“We just couldn’t get the bounces going the right way.”
It was hard for Paul to be disappointed in the loss, considering the rise in the program coming off the 6-10 campaign of 2024.
Numbers are up. Young players are excited about field hockey, and the Owls opened plenty of eyes again this fall.
“At the end of our huddle, we had the conversation with the team,” said Paul. “You have to look at the bigger picture, just how far we’ve come. The expectation was low to start, but they’ve just come so far.”
Of course, the toughest part of the close to the season is saying goodbye to six seniors, including four starters, who have meant so much to the program.
Captains Ava Paul and Taylor Alperin have been anchors down the middle of the field, as have been Kasidee Castro and Esme Johnston up front.
“It’s a pretty good talent dent,” said Paul. “It definitely leaves some gaps, and we’re going to miss them.”
Pinkerton stops Windham
No. 5 Pinkerton stopped No. 12 Windham in a tight one, 2-1.
The Astros now advance to the quarterfinals at No. 4 Winnacunnet on Friday afternoon at 3 p.m.
Cayden Madeiros and Jordyn Schreiber scored for Pinkerton. Molly Kuncik had eight saves in net to help preserve the win. Ayvree Hamilton and Fran Doyle delivered their usual, consistenly strong games for the winners. Brynn McKenna played a complete game at the midfield, pitching in on both ends of the field as a stopper on defensive corners as well.