After starting its 2016 season in extremely modest fashion – posting a 1-2-1 record in its first four matches – the Londonderry High field hockey team finished the campaign in exceptional style by posting a 9-1 record to finish up at an excellent 10-3-1.
The Lady Lancers put the final touches on their regular season Thursday, Oct. 13 by winning their fourth consecutive match in a 2-1 road decision at Nashua High School North.
Alivia Proulx handed Londonderry a 1-0 lead in the first half, but North managed to knot the score at 1-1 in the first 18 minutes of the second stanza. However, the locals received a goal from Krista Fletcher with 12 minutes showing up on the game clock, and the score ended up right there at 2-1.
Gabby L’Heureux and Maeve McPhail garnered the assists, and goalie Danielle Ziv contributed two saves to the victorious Londonderry High effort.
The Lady Lancers, who then spent the weekend contemplating what the Division I tournament seedings would look like, outscored their final 10 opponents by a tally of 17-7 in going 9-1.
The Lady Lancers found out this past Monday morning that they had gotten the fourth seed in the Division I tournament and earned a first-round bye. They will play host to the fifth-ranked, arch-rival Pinkerton Academy Lady Astros in quarterfinal-round play on their home field this Friday, Oct. 21, at 3 p.m.
Londonderry snagged a dramatic, 1-0 overtime win from Pinkerton in Mack Plaque play back in late September, with a goal coming from freshman Courtney Shay in a man-up situation after a Pinkerton player drew a major penalty late in regulation time.
Courtney Shay
Sarah Vanini and the LHS field hockey team finished their regular season as the fourth seed in Division I. Photo by Chris Paul