Good morning, readers. Today, we’ll have our annual fast-paced presentation of numerous tournament games in what we call TopOfTheCircle.com On-The-Go. Today, we see three state finals in Pennsylvania, five in New Jersey, three in Massachusetts, four in Virginia, and three in Connecticut.
In addition, there will be four sectional championships in California, six state semifinals in New York, and six semifinals in the New England Private Schools Athletics Council.
We’ll be posting small blurbs here on the blog, focusing on one game at a time in our “whiparound” style. It’s something you’re seeing more and more of in many sports, and I’d like to think field hockey can one day have its own professional video presence for this kind of thing.
We’ll be here all day until our hard stop at the end of the PIAA Class AAA final sometime around 5 p.m. Until then, make sure you hit the refresh button in your browser to see what’s going on up to the minute. Unlike our liveblog, we’re writing from top-down instead of bottom-up.
8:30 a.m. PRESHOW — Today, there will be around 35 games taking place from La Jolla, Calif. to Virginia Beach, Va.
One observation to make about some of these games is that a good portion of them are rematches. Some are from the regular season, such as the New Jersey Non-Public final at 4 p.m. between Summit Oak Knoll (N.J.) and Cherry Hill Camden Catholic (N.J.). These two sides met twice in a week, Oak Knoll taking a 1-0 win on September 28, and Camden Catholic taking a 2-1 win on October 5. The third meeting will, I believe, also be close.
But today will see a bunch of playoff rematches, which sees teams who have met previously in the postseason meeting again in the final.
In Virginia, the VHSL finals will feature Yorktown Tabb (Va.) and Poquoson (Va.) who met just a couple of weeks ago in the regional final which saw both teams matriculate to the Class 3A bracket. In Class 6A, Arlington Yorktown (Va.) will be going for its second consecutive state title, meeting Oakton (Va.) for the first time since the regional final in Region D.
In Pennsylvania, all three state finals are replays of district finals played two weeks ago. In Class AAA, it’s a District 1 rematch between Malvern Villa Maria (Pa.) against Tredyffrin Conestoga (Pa.). In Class AA, it’s Lititz Warwick (Pa.) and Dillsburg Northern York (Pa.), who played the District 3 final, while two more District 3 sides, Elliotsburg West Perry (Pa.) and Boiling Springs (Pa.) will contest the Class A final.
In Connecticut, the contestants in the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Council final, Darien (Conn.) and Westport Staples (Conn.) will meet again for the CIAC Class L final. The last time they met, Darien had a late lead, but Staples staged a comeback, winning the game on a Sofia Palacios backhand golazo in overtime.
Jim Davis, the long-time field hockey writer at The Trentonian, hated the concept of a playoff rematch, where a team you defeated in the postseason might circle back retains eligibility to win a championship.
“If you lose, you go home,” he would say.
Thing is, there could have been one more playoff rematch but for an accident in geography and enrollment. Today’s Virginia’s 5A final, Suffolk Nansemond River (Va.) takes on Virginia Beach First Colonial (Va.). These two teams are in the greater Hampton Roads area, located a mere 30 miles apart. But, thanks to VHSL’s line-drawing, they are in two separate regions. First Colonial comes into this game having won the 5A region, while Nansemond River won the 5B final.
Today, the nation’s two longest win streaks are on the line as Tabb looks to extend its streak to 90 games, while Watertown (Mass.) looks to extend its win streak to 97.
In other statistical things to watch is the fact that three 50-goal scorers — Bree Zoccolo of Warwick, Jordan Byers of West Perry, and Rachel Egan of Watertown are playing today. As far as we know, Jordyn Hollamon of Delmar (Del.) leads the nation in goals scored with 61.
Oh, and there’s also another thing to bear in mind today: one of the games today involves a storyline surrounding males in field hockey. Somerset-Berkley Regional (Mass.) and head coach Jen Crook have always welcomed male players, including her sons Lucas and Ryan, into the lineup. The latter will be in the side today against Norwood (Mass.).
This year, Dighton-Rehoboth (Mass.) quit its game against SBR in a huff because of the mere presence of Ryan Crook. While SBR is in today’s final, Dighton-Rehoboth didn’t even qualify for its 32-team state bracket.
9:00 — LAGRANGEVILLE, N.Y. — The New York Class A semifinal game between Garden City (N.Y.) and Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake (N.Y.) is getting under way with pregame ceremonies.
Both of these sides have competed at the National High School Invitational in the past. BH-BL, out of Section 2, is 19-0 this season; Garden City, the Section 11 winner, is 14-2 on the season. BH-BL has only conceded four goals this year; GC has only yielded five.
The game is on, and the Spartans get a penalty corner in the game’s third minute. The pull-right from the 1-up goes wide.
Five minutes later, BH-BL gets a series of two penalty corners, and its second attempt, on an option-left, misses the cage. The Spartans are keeping possession in its half of the field and have yet to let Garden City over the center stripe.
In the 13th minute, Lily Mastrella gets a sliver of room on the left wing, advances to goal, but her backhander goes wide. It’s the best chance in open play today.
But what’s this? With a minute to go in the first quarter, BH-BL has a shot deflected high on a penalty corner, and it is put in by sophomore Grace Kogut! Spartans lead 1-0 at the end of a dominant first quarter.
On a second quarter penalty corner, BH-BL runs an option-right off the shotgun, but the Spartans are called for obstruction. Later, the Spartans get a couple of shots on net, but the second is whistled down for a dangerous stick.
9:40 — WORCESTER, Mass. — The final of the MIAA Division 2 title match is under way from Worcester State University between Somerset-Berkley Regional and Norwood. SBR is looking for its third state title; Norwood, the top seed, is looking for its first title.
The Raiders seemingly get the ball into the goal cage on a 3-on-1, but it goes off a Raider’s foot.
A series of penalty corners ensues here with SBR. The ball goes to Crook, who aims a flick over the goal cage. On a re-rack, Crook flips a low shot which goes off a Norwood foot.
And now, in the seventh minute, SBR gets another corner. The initial shot is stopped by the Norwood defense, but it goes right to Crook at the penalty spot, who makes no mistake. Raiders lead 1-0.
9:45 — LAGRANGEVILLE, N.Y. — The game has been stopped for more than five minutes as there is a full-on discussion about an injury to a Garden State player. The result of the play was a BH-BL penalty corner instead of a foul on the Spartans.
The umpires, site manager for the NYSPHSAA, and the coaches are now at the scorer’s table discussing the incident. The result is status quo, in that a BH-BL penalty corner is the result, despite the injury, which came as a result of a Spartan stick.
In the final minute of the first half, BH-BL runs a corner from the Brooklyn side, and cannot get a shot on goal. A penalty corner is whistled before the halftime buzzer, and BH-BL has her shot saved by Garden city goalie Madeline Mitchell. She has had a superb first half against the pressure of 13 penalty corners.
The ball goes over the end line, and the umpire whistles the end of the half with Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake leading Garden City 1-0.
9:50 — WORCESTER, Mass. — With two minutes remaining in the first quarter, SBR doubles its advantage. It’s Ryan Crook again for the Raiders. The Raiders get a penalty corner to end the first quarter, but Norwood’s flyer makes the interception and clear. The quarter ends with Somerset-Berkley leading 2-0.
Crook’s goals are, regrettably, not going to change the debate about the role of male players in field hockey in America. The MIAA has boys’ field hockey written into its regulatory structure, but no teams have yet organized in any meaningful way.
I’ve always said that young men need to be playing field hockey on varsity boys’ teams, but until the people running field hockey support and fully fund men’s field hockey, you’re going to have this very problem.
10:00 — BORDENTOWN, N.J. — We’re at the opening whistle of the NJSIAA Group III final begins, as defending champion Mullica Hill Clearview (N.J.) takes on Allendale Northern Highlands (N.J.).
Northern Highlands, on an innocuous play, think they have the opener in the game’s second minute, but the ball was never touched inside the circle; a 23-meter free-in is the result.
Three minutes later, Clearview gets a penalty corner to the left, and the shot is deflected in; Britney Ewan’s crew leads 1-0 in the fifth minute of play!
10:10 — LAGRANGEVILLE, N.Y.. — On an adjacent field to the Garden City-Burnt Hills match, it is Shrub Oak Lakeland (N.Y.) taking the early lead over Pittsford Mendon (N.Y.) in the other Class B semifinal. The story is that Lakeland’s head coach is Sharon Sarsen, who is third amongst active coaches in wins, as she is nearing 750 for her distinguished career.
10:20 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The VHSL Class 3A has a breakthrough, as Yorktown Tabb (Va.) leads Poquoson 2-0 in the 18th minute of play. Tabb is looking for its fourth straight state title, and is looking to extend its winning streak to 90 games.
Tabb, under head coach Wendy Wilson, has had tremendous success in the sport because of an athletic and attacking style of play, good skills, and hard work.
But now, Poquoson gets a penalty corner in the game’s 22nd minute. From the Brooklyn side, Poquoson gets a shot from the left side which is saved and cleared, but off a Tabb foot. On the second time of asking, the Islander shot is sticked over the sideline for a free-in.
10:28 — WORCESTER, Mass. — We’re back at the Somerset-Norwood game, and the Mustangs have pulled one back through Ava Hines, who scores her 45th goal of the season in the final seconds of the third quarter. This could be an interesting fourth quarter, to be sure.
10:34 — LAGRANGEVILLE, N.Y.. — We’re at full time here at Arlington High School, as BH-BL wins 3-0 over Garden City. Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake wins 3-0, without allowing the Trojans a penalty corner during regulation. They will take on the Lakeland-Mendon winner from the game on the adjacent pitch.
10:36 — BORDENTOWN, N.J. — An untimed penalty corner by Clearview hops over the endline, and the game goes to the half with Clearview leading Northern Highlands 1-0.
One of Clearview’s team highlights thus far came at the National High School Invitational, as the Pioneers beat Elliotsburg West Perry (Pa.) 1-0. West Perry, interestingly, plays in the Pennsylvania Class A final in about half an hour.
10:42 — WORCESTER, Mass. — Things are getting tough and tense here in the last 10 minutes of the Division 2 final. On a chance leading to a 23M free-in, a Norwood and SBR player collide at the left of the cage. It’s that kind of a game.
Meanwhile, Crook is starting to exert influence over the game, hitting 40-yard passes and making steals. But the Mustangs are able to get it back in the attack circle. Their attack penalty corner is driven from outside the circle, and at a dangerous height. That was a chance not taken.
10:46 — BORDENTOWN, N.J. — And Clearview takes a 2-0 lead in the Group 3 final thanks to an Alaina Lomonaco goal, her second of the match! The Pioneers move one step closer to a possible repeat.
10:50 — WORCESTER, Mass. — Norwood has a penalty corner now with under two left in the match; what can they do with this?
Norwood gets a shot off, but it is defensed by SBR on the low block. Norwood is trying to get it into the circle, but cleared by Crook. Anywhere will do at the moment.
Mustangs with a penalty corner at the horn; Norwood will have to take this to try to tie the match. But the backhand shot is wide, and the second half ends. Somerset-Berkley Regional wins the match by a score of 2-1! The Raiders are champions for the third time!
10:55 — LAGRANGEVILLE, N.Y. — Lakeland, leading 2-0, is still attacking with abandon. The Hornets have an open blast on the Mendon cage which is stopped by the goalkeeper.
Lakeland earnes a corner in the 37th minute, and taking it from the Brooklyn side. Long shot from Gabriella Santini, on a deeper angle on the right, finds net! Wow! It is her second of the game and the Hornets lead 3-0 and look like they are destined for a meeting tomorrow with Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake!
11:00 — WETHERSFIELD, Conn. — The CIAC field hockey final between Branford (Conn.) and Guilford (Conn.) will be contesting the Class M final. These two schools are located a scant eight miles apart along the northern banks of Long Island Sound. These teams did not meet in the SCC tournament; Branford had lost in the first round of the conference tournament, so this isn’t a playoff rematch.
Branford is pressing to get an early corner in the first four minutes, but Guilford is putting up a fight. Branford with a long shot that is sticked aside, and a 23M free-in for Guilford.
11:10 — MECHANICSVILLE, Pa. — The PIAA Class A final between West Perry and Boiling Springs is under way. The teams met a scant two weeks ago at a pitch about four miles away. West Perry won the game 6-2.
Boiling Springs manufactures a penalty corner from a 3-on-3, and will send to the top. West Perry’s Autumn Albright carries the ball towards the sideline and clears.
Jordan Byers, one of the nation’s leading scorers, dances into the final third and whips in a backhand shot which the goalkeeper saves with her right moonboot.
11:17 — BORDENTOWN, N.J. — Meanwhile, Clearview takes a 3-0 lead in the Group 3 final in the 56th minute, and it appears to be clear sailing for the Pioneers on the way to their third straight state title.
The crowd at Bordentown’s pitch is feeling the joy of the expected win. The final buzzer goes, and Clearview wins the game!
11:17 — MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Bang! Jordan Byers on the 1-up penalty corner and the Mustangs take a 1-0 lead! It’s Byers’ 56th goal of the season!
Moments later, Byers, on the same corner, slices it wide of the cage and somehow misses a teammate at the penalty spot and one at the left post! That could have been two!
Byers, who is headed to Iowa, had a hat trick two weeks ago in a 6-2 win over Boiling Springs in the PIAA District 3 title match … but in open play, Dyer gets a second goal for West Perry and the advantage is doubled!
Seconds later, West Perry gets another penalty corner, one which results in a Byers blast that misses the cage. And in the final minute, Byers is tripped in the circle with an open lane to goal, and a penalty stroke is called!
Byers steps to the spot and flips it into the top corner where Mama hides the Thin Mints! It’s 3-0 West Perry! That is a wonderful stroke goal, and it is her 57th of the season.
11:28 — LAGRANGEVILLE, N.Y. — The semifinals of the New York Class C tournament are taking place at Arlington High School, and Carle Place is trailing Whitney Point 1-0. Time is out because of a collision between two Carle Place players. Two fresh defenders are going to come in temporarily for the Frogs.
And now, within minutes of that stoppage, Colleen Hildebrand stakes Whitney Point to a 2-0 lead in the 22nd minute of play. Both of these games were very much against the run of play, and Whitney Point took advantage of the space to score. The Eagles are aiming for a third, but can’t keep it inbounds, and the Frogs have a free out from the 16Y.
11:45 — MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Boiling Springs, despite being down 4-0, are playing better and taking the ball through the attacking third. But a stupendous block tackle on the part of the Mustang defense sends a Bubbler flying, and the Boiling Springs supporters are up in arms!
The halftime klaxon sounds with West Perry leading 4-0. Jordan Byers with three of the four goals for the Mustangs.
11:47 — WETHERSFIELD, Conn. — The CIAC Class M field hockey final between Branford (Conn.) and Guilford (Conn.) is heading into the third quarter with the sides goalless.
Branford, on a penalty corner in the 35th minute, rings a drag flick off the post! Wow! That rebounded at least a dozen yards back into the field of play! Guilford clears, but gives up another penalty corner, which is stopped by the goalkeeper.
Guilford, seconds later, gets a penalty corner of its own. Good use of lateral passes almost shakes a player free at the penalty spot, but a stick violation gives Branford the ball.
A minute later, Guilford gets another corner. Can they break through this time? This corner chance goes begging, and we remain goalless.
11:55 — MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Boiling Springs is in the ascendancy here, putting pressure on West Perry in the first five minutes of the third quarter. West Perry still leads the game 4-0, but the Bubblers get another penalty corner here.
On the play, the long flick from the Bubblers’ Anna Lucido goes over the goal cage. A follow-up corner goes to the top, option right, but the tackle results in a re-rack for Boiling Springs. The pass play is defensed. That’s five corners in row for the District 3A runners-up, but they have come up empty.
12:00 — BORDENTOWN, N.J. — It’s the opening hitback between Woolwich Kingsway (N.J.) and Montclair (N.J.) in the NJSIAA Group 4 final. Kingsway has done a remarkable job getting back to the state tournament final for a third straight year. Kingway not only graduated a top senior class, but lost goalie Soren Kipphut, who graduated early from high school to enroll at the University of Virginia.
Montclair has a great human interest story. Win or lose, this is the final game in the coaching career of Mary Pat Mercurio, who has more than 450 wins in 31 years of coaching the Mounties. Montclair has not won a state championship since 1985.
12:00 — WORCESTER, Mass. — We’re back at Worcester State University, where Watertown (Mass.) is meeting Sandwich (Mass.) in the MIAA Division 3 final. Watertown, despite winning more than 90 straight games, is the second seed in the tournament. That has to be a motivation for head coach Eileen Donahue’s team.
The Knights are pressing the issue here and have a phase of four corners in this phase of play. However, the Watertown defense is holding well. Quinn Jordan had a tip opportunity on the last, but cannot get it on frame.
Wow; Watertown has conceded a fifth penalty corner in this first quarter. Can the Knights get something out of this? Well, after the Raiders’ trip, it’s No. 6. Sandwich is still pressing and they get a seventh corner in the last five minutes. The Knights would love to get one here, but Rachel Egan with the interception!
12:08 — CONCORD, Mass. — We have a goal in the first quarter of the NEPSAC Class B semifinal between Concord Middlesex (Mass.) and Weston Rivers School (Mass.), as an option-left somehow got behind the goalkeeper, and Middlesex leads 1-0!
12:16 — BORDENTOWN, N.J. — Kingsway gets an untimed corner at the end of the first quarter, but the attempt is intercepted and cleared! The sides are goalless at the moment, but there is every indication that both teams are keen to get that first goal.
12:16 — EASTHAMPTON, Mass. — At Sawyer Field, we have two quick goals from Easthampton Williston Northampton School (Mass.) in the second quarter of the NEPSAC Class B semifinal as the hosts take a strong advantage over Brookline Dexter Southfield (Mass.). Yep, these are very definitely the “blink and you’ll miss it” variety.
12:27 — BORDENTOWN, N.J. — Montclair with a set of three penalty corners, and the third one goes to the left wing, down to the post, and in by Eliza Larson, her 21st of the season! Montclair is up 1-0 on Kingsway!
12:30 — MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Full time here in Mechanicsburg, and West Perry has won only its second state championship in school history in any sport! Credit Jordan Byers with the brace on the day, and 57 goals on the season.
12:32 — BORDENTOWN, N.J. — And just like that, Kingsway with the penalty corner and the score to level the Group 4 final, thanks to Grace Hunter’s rebound! It’s 1-1 shortly before the halftime interval.
12:33 — WETHERSFORD, Conn. — We’re in overtime between Guilford and Branford!
Guilford has been given a green card for a trip eight minutes into extra time, and now Branford on the power play for the remainder of the first overtime period. But Guilford with a hopeful run up the right wing, but lose the ball back to Branford. The Bees can’t get it into the circle. The buzzer sounds, and we’ll go to double OT here with the game at 0-0.
Guilford earns the penalty corner after the green card expires; let us see what they do with this. Guilford flubs the insert, and is fortunate not to give up a breakaway.
On the regather, Guilford gets the ball into the circle, moves the goalkeeper, and the ball goes in off Cassie Ward’s stick in the 72nd minute! What a game! What a final!
12:33 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — We’re in the third period between Virginia Beach First Colonial and Suffolk Nansemond River, and Nansemond River is leading leading 2-0. Nansemond River, under head coach Allison Dize, is looking for a state title for the first time.
First Colonial has regrouped and reloaded after the retirement of Laura “Beanie” Schleicher and her three state titles in four seasons a few years back. Head coach Nancy Smart has done a fine job in getting her players to believe in their skills and speed.
FC gets through into the final third, but the ball is tipped over the end line by Nansemond River, and it’s a 23M free in for FC. But moments later, Nansemond River gets a penalty corner chance. That corner has been defensed and cleared.
Jordan White with amazing skills for NR, and she gets around two players for FC and has the goalie down, but somehow that ball is kept out. Wow; how did that not go in? Penalty corner is the result, but NR cannot score the ball.
12:56 — WORCESTER, Mass. — Watertown has a 1-0 lead late in the third quarter, but Sandwich is putting on the pressure via the penalty corner. Watertown’s Caroline Andrade, who had the goal in the game’s 17th minute, makes a defensive play on the short corner. We go to the fourth with the Raiders leading 1-0.
1:05 — ANDOVER, Mass. — Wow, only 3:41 into the contest, and Andover Phillips Academy (Mass.) takes a 1-0 lead over Greenwich (Mass.) Academy in the NEPSAC Class A semifinal. Greenwich Academy was one of the better teams in the New England preparatory world in the early 2000s, but Phillips has assembled an awesome team which has had very few close games thus far. The Blues are in the TopOfTheCircle.com Top 10 for a reason.
1:10 — BORDENTOWN, N.J. — Kingsway with a double-deflection into the cage! The crowd goes mad, but the umpire whistles it down; was it danger? Moments later, the Dragons with another corner, but the individual play along the left wing is tackled and cleared.
1:12 — MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — We are under way at Cumberland Valley High School, as we have a rematch of the PIAA District 3-AA title match between Lititz Warwick (Pa.) and Dillsburg Northern York (Pa.). Northern York is making its first state final appearance; Warwick is looking to make a very emotional win only three days after the death of former head coach Bob Derr.
And just like that, two minutes into the game, Bree Zoccolo with a putaway for her 51st goal of the season, and Warwick takes the lead!. A minute later, the Warriors with a penalty corner, but Craver is tackled. Northern York is whistled for the stick, and we’ll have a second corner. However, the play took too long and NoYo takes it away and clears.
And now, in the sixth, we have a second goal from Kenzie Ellis, as Warwick leads 2-0.
1:16 — BORDENTOWN, N.J. — Key segment in the 53rd minute as Kingsway earns a penalty corner. The Dragons try a passing play but Montclair aggressively defends, but a foot leads to a secon corner. Kingsway, on the rerack, tries a shot from the right wing, deflected by the Mounties.
1:17 — WORCESTER, Mass. — It’s full time at Watertown! Watertown wins 2-0 thanks to a pair of penalty corner goals. Amazingly, there were just five PCs awarded to Watertown the entire match, but they scored on two of them. Caroline Andrade and Kaylee Master had the goals for the Raiders.
This is the 22nd state title in Watertown’s history, and the Raiders have won 97 games in a row. Absolutely amazing.
1:18 — BORDENTOWN, N.J. — Kingsway takes the lead from Erin Callahan in the 56th minute mere moments after Isabella Sanchez received a five-minute yellow card! Wow! Dragons get the shortie, but Montclair presses for a penalty corner series.
But Montclair’s shot is swallowed up by the Dragon defense! The Kingsway attack runs out the clock, and we are at full time! Kingway with the three-peat and the Group IV final victory!
1:37 — WETHERSFORD, Conn. — Darien’s Katie Bock has given the Blue Wave a 1-0 lead over Staples as the teams go to the second quarter of the CIAC Class L championship
But wow! Staples with quick strike goal off the second-quarter hitback levels the match! That took about 14 seconds! Leah Larit with the conversion off the cross in front! We’re tied 1-1 and it’s all to play for here. And just three minutes after that, Larit scores again to give Staples a 2-0 lead! They’re not our No. 7 team for nothing.
Darien now has a penalty corner, and the option left is sent towards goal, but the ball is cut out and cleared.
1:47 — LAGRANGEVILLE, N.Y. — The Class B semifinal in New York sees Guilderland (N.Y.) leading Farmingville Sachem East (N.Y.) 1-0 on a game in the final minute of a tense first half. The umpires were handing out penalty cards like speeding tickets at the Daytona 500, but I think the teams will settle down after the first half.
That goal by Guilderland was only the second goal that Sachem East has yielded the entire season.
In the 34th minute, Guilderland now has a penalty corner. Sadie Miller’s shot is deemed to be dangerous, and Sachem East is given the 16Y free out. But Sachem East turns it over, leading to another Guilderland corner. On the play, the four-way pass play is shot into the cage! Guilderland leads 2-0!
1:55 — WETHERSFORD, Conn. — Bock has scored again for Darien to level the CIAC Class L title match 2-2 as we head to the interval. This should be a barnburner headed into the second half, and it might take about eight rows of the cornfield with it.
2:05 — BORDENTOWN, N.J. — We’re early days in the NJSIAA Group 1 final as West Long Branch Shore Regional (N.J.) takes on Newton (N.J.). Shore is one of the most successful scholastic field hockey programs of all time, having won 17 state championships, but it has been a ways until the Blue Devils have won one.
The Blue Devils have created a couple of corner changes, but Newton gets out of the cage quickly and snuffs out the opportunity. A follow-up change hits the net, but off a Shore foot.
2:08 — LAGRANGEVILLE, N.Y. — Mamaroneck (N.Y.), the No. 2 team in the TopOfTheCircle.com Top 10, takes the field in the New York Class A semifinal against Rome (N.Y.) Free Academy. Mamaroneck is led by sophomore Lily Brickman, who has 34 goals. The Tigers have a penalty corner in the second minute, but the Black Knights are able to keep it out.
2:12 — ANDOVER, Mass. — Philips Andover still leads the NEPSAC Class A semifinal 1-0 over Greenwich Academy, and are still pressing with about six mintues remaining But Greenwich Academy with an artful corner that almost slinks in. Andover takes a timeout to regroup.
2:15 — BORDENTOWN, N.J. — Shore going to work in the final minute of the first half of the NJSIAA Group I final; long shot off the angle hits the tire at the back of the goal cage, and we’ll go to the first-quarter interval tied at 0-0.
2:17 — MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Warwick almost gets a penalty corner goal, but it goes off a foot. A follow-up penalty corner is saved by Northern York. The Indians lead 4-0 and time is ticking down for Northern York.
Warwick keeps putting on the pressure.
2:19 — ANDOVER, Mass. —Full time here at Phillips Andover, and the hosts qualify for tomorrow’s NEPSAC Class A final with a 1-0 win
2:24 — BORDENTOWN, N.J. — Newton sets off the alarm bells and, after a rebound, is able to get the ball into the goal cage! Wow, that’s a goal which seemed to be coming for a while after some good chances the last couple of minutes! Braves lead 1-0 in what would be a pretty big upset.
2:26 — WETHERSFORD, Conn. — Staples holds a 3-2 lead, but Darien has a penalty corner in the 47th minute, but the play is tackled by the Wreckers’ defense,
Darien now with a series of PCs in the 50th minute. A chopped shot is clipped into the cage by Larit, again! That’s her third of the match and she’ll be taking the match ball home!
2:29 — BORDENTOWN, N.J. — Shore with an option-left, but an amazing toe save by Newton goalkeeper Abbie Paglia! She is feeling it today as she high-fives her corner defense unit. Shore, a couple of minutes later, gets another corner, but the Blue Devils are cut out by the Braves’ defense.
And now, with 58 seconds left in the first half, a penalty stroke is called on the Shore defense! Wow, that was a 1-on-3 opportunity, but the tackle occurred with a clear lane to goal. Kaitlyn Harding puts away the stroke and the Newton Braves lead 2-0! Wow!
The sides head to the interval with that scoreline, and the Blue Devils have some work to do.
2:30 — MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — It’s full time in the PIAA Class AA final, and, in one of the great stories of the season, the Warwick Warriors take a 4-0 win over Boiling Springs. This, only a few days after learning of the death of former head coach Bob Derr.
Full marks to head coach Ron Stief and the Warwick players for keeping their focus on the job at hand and winning the state title over some difficult opposition in their half of the bracket.
2:36 — WETHERSFORD, Conn. — The CIAC Class L title match now comes down to the last six minutes. Staples coach Ian Tapsall calls timeout, up two, to try to settle the team and focus in on finishing the job.
And coming out of the timeout, the Staples team was able to score with a Sofia Fidalgo golazo. What a shot and what a moment! The Wreckers lead 5-2 and are seemingly about to set sail for a championship. And with the buzzer, Staples has won the Class L championship!
2:44 — LAKEVILLE, Conn. — A few minutes away from there, however, we have a tense goalless affair between Lakeville Hotchkiss School (Conn.) and Watertown Taft (Conn.), the winner of which will take on Phillips Andover in tomorrow’s NEPSAC Class A final. Right now, we have a penalty corner for Hotchkiss, but the team is repelled by Taft. Taft makes a quick counterattack, but cannot handle the ball in the circle. It’s end-to-end between these two sides as we head to the fourth quarter.
2:49 — BORDENTOWN, N.J. — What’s this? Shore Regional gets two quick goals to level the sides! Great effort by the Blue Devils to flip this game right on its head! Wow! Final minute of the third and its’ all to play for here!
Two late Braves penalty corners are solved by the Shore defense and we had to the last 15 minutes all tied up!
3:00 — LAGRANGEVILLE, N.Y. — Mamaroneck is holding to a 1-0 lead over Rome Free Academy, but RFA is attacking on the corners. And with 1:38 left in the third quarter, the Tigers are able to get a long blast from Catherine D’Arcy to double the advantage! In the final seconds of the third, Mamaroneck almost gets a third, but it is off a Tiger foot. We go the fourth with Mamaroneck leading 2-0
3:01 — WORCESTER, Mass. — In the MIAA Division 4 field hockey final, let’s give some love to one of the most dominant programs in the United States, Uxbridge (Mass.). The team has won state titles the last three seasons, and is on the precipice of a fourth with a 2-0 halftime lead over Harwich Momomoy (Mass.)
3:01 — LAKEVILLE, Conn. –– Hotchkiss, with time ticking away in the fourth quarter, is engineering a series of penalty corners. The team almost gets it in on the fourth attempt, but it is a 23M free in. The pressure continues and a penalty corner is awarded right on the stroke of regulation. An untimed penalty corner is the result.
Something from the training ground? Eight players on the arc. Hotchkiss tries to round the right side, and Taft with the tackle. The whistle sounds to end regulation and we are going to overtime!
3:12 — BORDENTOWN, N.J. — The Newton-Shore game is starting to get a little tense. The umpires have whistled more than one card on the Braves the last few minutes, and Shore gets a 55th-minute penalty corner. The play yields a low cross, which is dealt with by the Newton defense.
But on the re-rack, Shore gets another corner, but the hi-lo does not connect. Newton with the timeout in the 56th and the game is tied 2-2.
3:18 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — We’ve been a little lax on this one, but we are circling back over to the VHSL Class 4A final which sees Purcellville Loudoun Valley (Va.), the defending state champions, leading Fredericksburg Chancellor (Va.) 2-0. We are in the final two minutes of play, and Loudoun Valley is being patient and running clock. A win here is yet another triumph for the 2023 Region of the Year in field hockey, Loudoun County.
And with 17 seconds left, Loudoun Valley gets a third, a great capper to a 3-0 win over Chancellor and a second straight state title.
3:20 — LAKEVILLE, Conn. –– Taft takes advantage of the extra space and time and scores the game-winner in extra time! This was a bolt out of the blue in the first seconds of the extra period! On the play, the ball came through for a 2-on-1, and finished with a backhander. The goal came 29 seconds into extra time.
Taft will take on Phillips Andover in tomorrow’s NEPSAC Class A final.
3:24 — BORDENTOWN, N.J. — The final horn sounds to end regulation, and we will have overtime between Shore Regional and Newton!
And now, Shore almost puts away a breakaway in the first minute of overtime! Goodness, what more drama can happen here?
3:30 — MECHANICSVILLE, Pa. — The PIAA Class AAA final is taking place with Tredyffrin Conestoga (Pa.) taking the lead on an Alivia D’Ascanio deflection. The game goes to the second quarter with the Pioneers leading Villa Maria 1-0.
Conestoga, despite some tremendous female athlete development in many sports, is looking for its first field hockey title. Villa Maria is last year’s PIAA Class AA title winner, but is playing up a level.
Watch for Conestoga’s Shaw Wozniak and Villa Maria’s Caitlin Connell to play huge roles for the next three quarters.
3:34 — BORDENTOWN, N.J. — Newton with a series of corners in the 66th minute but cannot get off an open shot. And now, timeout for an injury on the part of a Newton player as a stick hit the player’s head.
At the other end of the pitch, Shore with a chance on the right wing, but the player didn’t get enough on the shot and scuffs it wide of the goal frame.
We now go to double overtime here in Bordentown.
3:40 — MECHANICSVILLE, Pa. — Villa Maria with a couple of penalty corner chances in the game’s 18th minute. The Hurricanes do a hi-lo from the Brooklyn side, and Sydney Wright comes up with the save! Conestoga still leads 1-0.
3:43 — BORDENTOWN, N.J. — A few minutes after Hotchkiss scored 29 seconds into their overtime, did Shore just score 14 seconds into the second OT here in the NJSIAA Group 1 final? Shore thinks it has scored, but the umpires confer and wave it off. The umpires were a lot closer than the camera angle, believe me. I think it might have been a foot/hand on the way in, but we can check later.
Paglia comes up with a sparkling stop on Shore in the 72nd minute! Wow!
3:45 — MECHANICSVILLE, Pa. — Villa Maria earns a penalty corner in the final seconds of the first half, but the long blast off the option left goes right to the flyer, who clears and ends the half. Conestoga still leads 1-0.
3:49 — WORCESTER, Mass. — Full time here in the MIAA Division 4 state final, and Uxbridge beats Monomoy 3-1. Uxbridge wins its fourth consecutive state title!
3:51 — BORDENTOWN, N.J. — Shore works the hi-lo, and Paglia makes anotehr stop! Wow! We’re only two minutes away from the end of the second overtime period.
Another corner now in the 80th. The ball goes up top, but the tackle made, and will re-rack for a stick obstruction. The final corner of regulation takes place, and the rebounds is cleared! We will now go to a penalty shootout! This is new territory for the NJSIAA; I think this is the first penalty shootout in a New Jersey state final; usually, the dreaded words, “Co-champions shall be declared” is announced over the PA. Thankfully, that is no longer the case.
We’ll keep it here for the penalty shootout between Shore and Newton. This is the FIH shootout, but with 10 seconds on the clock instead of eight. Shore will start.
Shore’s Emma Haynes moves in, Paglia with the tackle, and a stroke is called! Haynes scores
Newton’s Kaitlyn harding moves in, and puts it in, cool as you like
Shore’s Mariel Montenegro pulls right, and slots it in
Newton’s Jaclyn Vena withstands the stick tackle and pulls right, putting it in
Shore’s Marin Stefanelli goes in and is tripped, and a stroke is called. But Paglia makes the save!
Newton’s Meadow D’Annibale with the spin-o-rama, but Shore makes the save!
Shore’s Finley Elias has open room on the left, but loses it over the end line!
But Ellas gets another chance? She moves in, Paglia with a save, but the rebound goes in.
Newton’s Emma Trout moves right, and the shot is saved!
Shore’s Gabby O’Brien collides with the goalkeeper as the ball goes behind her; obstruction is called
Newton’s Allyson Maffia pulls right and cannot get off a shot past the goalie in the 10 seconds.
Wow, Shore wins the shootout 3-2 after a gripping 2-2 draw. I tell you, this one willl be relived for a long time in the diners in both Sussex and Ocean Counties.
I think a lot will be made of the umpire’s decision to allow a retake of Finley Elias’ fourth chance. The only thing I can think of is that there might have been a timer error that did not allow the clock to start? That being the case, it would likely have to have mandated a retake.
4:06 — WETHERSFORD, Conn. — While all this was going on, Washington Shepaug Valley (Conn.) took a 1-0 lead on Hamden Sacred Heart (Conn.) on a tip-in goal on a late first-half penalty corner. The game is in the second half with Shepaug Valley still leading 1-0
4:16 — MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Also, while the shootout was going on, Villa Maria has drawn level with Conestoga in the PIAA Class AAA final on an Erin Mitchell goal in the 39th minute. We’re in the fourth with both teams throwing in surges like marathon runners.
And it’s all going on in the final 10 minutes! Conestoga’s Shae Wozniak slips a diagonal that is bunted over the line, but the umpire called a foot; no goal! And on the other end, Caitlin Connell of Villa Maria sizzles an open shot about two inches wide of the left post!
This is the story of two teams which are showing uncommon desire and now a bit of physicality. With 6:41 to go, the umpire has shown a yellow card to Villa Maria, and Conestoga not only gets a power play, but a penalty corner. The Hurricanes tackle smartly and do not allow the Pioneers to get off a shot on goal.
Well, now we have a minute remaining, and Conestoga is being awarded a penalty corner! Let’s see if they do something fanci. Option left is saved by Villa Maria’s keeper, and Conestoga kicks it bunts it over the goal line, and the umpire was on the spot.
We’re going to extra time!
4:35 — WETHERSFORD, Conn. — We’re in the final seven minutes of the CIAC Class S final with Shepaug Valley still leading Sacred Heart 1-0. SHA calls timeout; will it lead to the same kind of late-game magic that occurred after Ian Tapsall’s timeout in the Class L final last game?
4:37 — MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Shea Wozniak takes the ball deep in the corner, beats two defenders on the end line, and backhands a golazo into the cage 1:15 into overtime! Wow!
With teams as talented as these two, you know it had to take a goal like that to win the match! This was the first time since 1987 that Conestoga has even been in the state championship field hockey game. It’s a team and program which has always been in the headwaters of contenders for state championship glory, but this is the year that head coach Regan Marscher put it all together. Full marks to the Conesoga program for this win.
4:44 — WETHERSFORD, Conn. — Shepaug Valley with a couple of late corners, keeping the ball far away from its own goal. The team with the ball in the attack end, and they are taking their time and keeping possession in the final third. And the final whistle goes, and Shepaug Valley has won its first state title since 2002.
So, that’s all for today; good night and good hockey.
