Veteran coach Laura Federico’s Londonderry High field hockey squad did precisely what an up-and-coming team should do against two struggling opponents last week.
The Lady Lancers dealt the Manchester Central and Dover High contingents losses to up their own Division I record to a strong 7-4-1.
After a slow start, Federico’s charges surged and bagged a 3-1 win over the Central contingent in the Queen City on Tuesday, Oct. 7.
The host Little Green side suffered its sixth consecutive loss in the match and slid to 3-9 overall in the tough division.
Jackie Curtin bagged the first goal (unassisted) for the locals, Hannah Cohen got the second following a set-up from Janelle Magoon, and Curtin potted another unassisted marker to make it a 3-1 contest. Goalie Rachel Simkevich was credited with seven stops in her side’s net.
“We took a bit to wake up, but we played well,” said Federico. “The girls know they are fighting for home field advantage and must begin playing with perfect effort.”
The LHS coach was particularly pleased with the efforts of her defenders Katie Montminy, Alyssa Fitzgerald, Sophia Poulin, Val Shay, and keeper Simkevich.
“The defense really stepped it up and focused on keeping the ball out of the middle of the field,” she said.
Londonderry claimed its second straight win and the third in four matches in a 2-0 blanking of Dover at LHS on Friday, Oct. 10.
For Dover, that loss continued a seven-game winless streak.
The contest and victory were particularly special for the Lady Lancers as it was Senior Night.
“All 11 of my seniors, Marissa Roger, Jackie Curtin, Jen McQueeney, Janelle Magoon, Michaela Kewley, Alyssa Fitzgerald, Katie Montminy, Emily Casey, Hannah Batchelor, Taylor Daileanes, and Emily Downing, started the game,” said Federico. “Of special note is that this was Hannah Batchelor’s first game back after breaking her thumb four weeks ago.”
The victorious hosts had Magoon score the first goal on a long hit (unassisted), and Roger tally the second with the assist coming from Curtin. The second marker came on the final play of the match off a penalty corner, with zero time showing on the clock. Keeper Downing made two stops her contribution to the shutout victory.
“The girls played very well but could not finish their work by putting it in the net,” said Federico. “We had a total of 21 shots on net, and 13 offensive corners. So we have some work to do in that area, but we still walked away with a 2-0 win.”