RallyNorth.net

Sun, Nov 03, 2019 04:00 PM @ Neutral Location

Team	1st	2nd	Final
Windham	1	1	2
Concord	0	0	0

Windham continues dynasty

Sunday, November, 03 By Jeff Hamrick

BEDFORD – Playing in its seventh championship game in eight years, Windham not only emphatically wrapped up another dominant field hockey season but also showed off the qualities that have turned the Jaguars into the state’s dynasty.

With a senior beating the halftime buzzer for the only goal it would need and a sophomore converting the late clincher, second-seeded Windham knocked off fifth-seeded Concord 2-0 Sunday evening for the Division 1 title at Bedford High School.

It was Windham’s first big-school championship in its second consecutive attempt since moving up a class last year and fourth overall in seven final appearances since 2012.

“They are awesome,” said Windham coach Katie Blair, who has guided the program to a 103-9-4 record (.905) since taking over in 2015. “From the senior leadership on down. They’re goal was to get better than they were the day before. Their hard work, heart and dedication was what got us here today. They’re pretty special. Any one of them would do anything for anyone else.”

The Jaguar defense continued its season-long suffocation of opposing offenses, allowing only 2 shots in the title game and six shots in three tournament wins. It was senior Kayla Antonucci’s 10th shutout this year and 23rd the past two.

“The defense is unreal,” said Blair, whose squad outscored opponents 54-3 and never allowed more than one goal in any game. “That’s our forwards getting back and everyone working together. The seniors are just so special. I can’t tell you enough about them. From the classroom to the field and how they treat the underclassmen.”

Despite controlling the action with 12 corners in the opening half, Windham (16-1) was deadlocked until Ryane Farrell found the ball on her stick with the final seconds ticking off. Unfazed, Farrell spun and used the left backboard to beat Concord keeper Felicity Wheldon with sixth-tenths of a second remaining.

“I had no idea how much time was left,” the senior tri-captain Farrell said of her sixth goal and fifth in the final six outings. “The last I saw was 20 seconds, so I knew we wanted to get it in the circle. I was thinking maybe a corner or someone would tip it in.”

It was Windham’s sixth shot on net compared to one for Concord.

“We were trying to get a corner,” Blair said. “But when (Farrell) put it in, it was even better. It was a spark.”

Concord (12-5) had a brief flurry early in the second half with the only four corners it would get after intermission during an 85-second stretch. But even then only one shot reached Antonucci.

The rest of the half was spent almost entirely in Windham’s offensive end. And finally on their 15th corner of the match, the Jags converted. Sophomore Amy Lanouette, who inserted every corner, found senior Livi Manchester, who immediately passed back to Lanouette, who scored with 5:33 remaining.

“I played to what the goalie was giving me instead of running the exact play (that was designed),” said Lanouette, of her first goal on the season that came on the same day she celebrated turning 16. “I saw that the net was open and I just shot it, placed it correctly and it went right in. I knew it was in when I shot.

“That was a risky angle to take … but when you see the goalie is off the line, it’s a crucial moment to hit the ball as soon as you see it. Extending that lead was such a relief because 1-0 is a scary lead to have.”

Senior starters Farrell, Antonucci, Manchester and Mary Johnson wrapped up four-year careers with a 61-5-1 (.918) mark while going a combined 2-2 in Division 1 and Division 2 title matches.

While the Jaguars lose quality seniors, seven of the 11 championship-game starters were underclassmen, including sophomores Lanouette and Ava Milner and freshman Kenzi Suech.

“We lose players each year, but we gain just as many. That’s what’s important to grow the program and culture. But those seniors are everything to this program. They’ve shown me how to be a team player … and taught me how to have fun doing it with girls you love.

 

DYNASTY BY THE NUMBERS

After finishing 5-7-3 in its inaugural 2010 season, Windham has since dominated both Division 2 and Division 1 competition. The Jaguars moved up in 2018. Here are the yearly records with championship game scores and opponent:

Year       Record   Finish

2011       11-4-0    Did not qualify for postseason

2012       13-3-1    Lost D2 final 3-1 Lebanon

2013       15-1-1    Won D2 final 2-1 Merrimack Valley

2014       15-1-1    Lost D2 final 2-1 Lebanon

2015       11-2-1    Lost D2 quarterfinal

2016       15-2-0    Won D2 final 1-0 Derryfield

2017       15-1-1    Won D2 final 1-0 Hanover

2018       15-2-0    Lost D1 final 2-0 Winnacunnet

2019       16-1       Won D1 final 2-0 Concord

Total      111-16-5 (.860)   4-3 in finals