The Londonderry High field hockey team found its scoring touch in three consecutive matches recently. But when the Lady Lancers would have most liked to have been potting goals – last Saturday against Pinkerton in Mack Plaque play – there were no goals to be had for the locals.
After netting a mere four goals in their first four matches of the 2014 campaign – and posting a modest 1-2-1 record in those contests – the Lady Lancers caught fire and potted 15 goals in their next three matches and won all of them to advance to 4-2-1 on the season.
In the last of those three noteworthy recent contests – at home against former LHS field hockey coach Ann MacLean’s Merrimack Lady Tomahawks on Wednesday, Sept. 24 – Londonderry scored three unanswered markers and drove to a 3-0 shutout.
Marissa Roger notched a goal and two assists for the winning side, Hannah Cohen and Janelle Magoon also potted single goals, and Hannah McGrath contributed an assist.
Emily Downing made three stops in the net to help with the shutout effort.
And in besting the Merrimack crew, the Lady Lancers weren’t beating a weak opponent. The Lady Tomahawks stepped into that match with a strong, 5-2 record.
“The girls were focused and ready to play,” said LHS coach Laura Federico. “We had the opportunity to see Merrimack play against Nashua South prior to our game, and it helped us prepare for our game.”
The Lancer crew gave its coach plenty of reasons to be proud of it in the Mack Plaque contest against tough Pinkerton at LHS early last Saturday afternoon, Sept. 27. But after playing to a scoreless tie through regulation time – in significant heat and humidity – the Lady Lancers saw the match get away when the now 6-1 Lady Astros scored with 4:10 to go in overtime.
LHS keeper Downing was good for seven stops in her net in what ultimately ended up being a defeat.
“I think the girls played great,” said Federico. “The weather definitely slowed us down a bit, but overall I couldn’t have asked for any more effort from them. Of course, a win would have been great, but when they walked off the field truly exhausted, I knew they gave everything they had on the field.”
While Londonderry had its three-game win streak ended with the loss, Pinkerton snagged its sixth consecutive win and its third straight shutout.