MANCHESTER — Protect the circle at all costs.
That, more than anything else, is the defensive mantra of the Manchester Essex field hockey team, even more than protecting the net itself. Opponents can venture into that territory, but the Hornets’ goal is to get the ball out quickly before their foes even have a sniff of succeeding.
Visiting Masconomet did its best Wednesday afternoon to dispel that theory, but were unable to crack the Manchester Essex code. That, and four goals at the other end of the turf, made for a 4-0 Hornets final in a clash of non-league powers at Hyland Field.
Senior captain Aisling Twombly at center back, flanked by fellow seniors Isabelle Donnellan Valade and Hannah Davis, suffocated a speedy and potentially dangerous Masconomet attack with strong marking, blocked shots, and communication. Underclassmen Madeline Franco and Penelope Riggs rotated in the high defensive position as well, providing valuable assistance.
As a result, goaltender Brigid Carovillano only had to stop a pair of shots to earn the shutout.
“That’s three senior defenders who know the style of D we like to play,” said head coach Courtney Brown, her team now 10-2-2. “It’s that sense of having our stick down, anticipate when the ball is getting into the circle, and then getting it out.”
The Northeastern Conference leading Chieftains (now 11-4) had scored what they believed to be the tying goal late in the first half when captain Savannah Stevens ripped a shot off a corner from Molly Regan into the Manchester Essex net. But it was waived off, with the game officials saying the attempt came from just outside the scoring circle.
“When I initially saw it, it looked like a beautiful shot that went into the corner of the net,” said Masconomet coach Liz Dean. “But it was just a pinch outside. It’s frustrating for the shooter, frustrating for our girls in the circle, frustrating for our bench … all you can do is regroup, reset and get back after it.”
Carovillano, who will play lacrosse goalie at the University of North Carolina beginning this fall, saw that the shot had been taken outside the circle and let the ball go into the net instead of playing it … in which case Masconomet could’ve jumped on the rebound and played the ball legally.
“I’m grateful that I have players who have game sense to make choices like that,” Brown stated, “and I trust them to make choices in high stakes games like this.”
Masconomet sophomore Sabrina Cafarelli was busy throughout, stopping 12 shots.
“The score might not show it,” said Dean, “but it’s amazing the level of IQ that Sabrina has back there to make that clear or come up with big stops.”
Hornets junior Abby Kent, the North Shore’s leading scorer who recently announced her intent to attend Holy Cross, scored two goals to lead the Manchester Essex offense. Her first came off a corner nine-and-a-half minutes in; the second, following Masco’s potential tying score being disallowed, came with about four minutes left in the third quarter.
Lelia Mears then gave the Hornets a commanding 3-0 lead before the quarter ended, converting a Kiernan Day pass. Day then closed out the scoring with a fourth quarter reverse sweep; Summer Demeo (2 assists) had the helper.
Masconomet, which plays Marblehead Thursday afternoon, got fine play from Olivia Tsoukalas and Sophia Carson up front. Another junior, Genevieve Clapp, came back with confidence after taking a hard shot off the bottom of her leg in the first quarter.
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