After coaching her first two matches as the new leader of the Londonderry High field hockey program, Lady Lancers’ varsity coach Nichole Treadway found herself still seeking her first victory at that post.
Treadway saw her new charges drop decisions of 4-1 to Bishop Guertin of Nashua and 6-2 to the defending Division I champions from Timberlane Regional High last week as the local crew started out at 0-2.
The Lady Lancers began their 2017 campaign in the Gate City against Guertin last Wednesday, Aug. 30, and they watched the Lady Cardinals race out to a 3-0 advantage by halftime.
Londonderry got its lone goal from Courtney Shay – with an assist from Allie Marsh – during the second stanza. The squad’s freshman goalie Rylee Walters saw plenty of shots in her first high school match and turned aside 15 of them.
Along with the rookie’s strong work, coach Treadway saw impressive efforts from several of the defenders in front of her.
“Chase Vanini had a great defensive game along with Ellen Kester,” said the coach.
The new LHS mentor and her kids knew that there would be nothing easy about playing the defending champs from Timberlane and Plaistow in the Lancers’ home opener on Friday, Sept. 1, and they were very correct.
The Owls grasped a 2-0 lead at halftime and ended up receiving four big goals from Sarah Padellaro in the decisive victory.
The locals got single goals from Laura Mullen and Marsh in the contest, with rookie keeper Walters making 13 stops in her net. Her teammates managed to put seven shots on the opposing cage.
This week’s slate had the team playing a road match at Bedford on Wednesday the Sept. 6 – after Londonderry Times press time – followed by a home match against Concord on Friday, Sept. 8.