RallyNorth.net

Fri, Nov 02, 2007 02:30 PM @ Neutral Location

Team	1st	2nd	Final
Playoff Game
Watertown	0	0	0
Manchester Essex	2	1	3

Hornets advance to Division 2 North semifinals

Saturday, November, 03 By Nick Curcuru
Correspondent

One step closer.

That's what members of the Manchester Essex field hockey team were saying after their 3-0 win over Watertown in the Division 2 North quarterfinal yesterday at Rockport High School. With the win, the top-seeded Hornets (18-1-1) move to the semifinals, one step closer to the team's goal of a state championship.

The Hornets have now reached the Division 2 North semifinals for the sixth straight season, but they have not made it past this round in each of the last five years. The Hornets hope to put an end to that streak when they meet fourth-seeded Marblehead in the semifinals. The Magicians defeated Belmont in their quarterfinal match. The time and location of the semifinal game is not yet determined.

"We played really good field hockey today," Hornets head coach Pam Grant said. "These girls are truly a team and it shows in the way they play. We played really hard and got great performances from both our offense and defense."

It did not take long for the Hornets offense to get on the board. Hornets forward Stephanie Lamattina was able to beat Watertown goaltender Taylor Connors to put the Hornets up 1-0 just 2:30 into the game.

The Hornets pushed the pace the entire first half and were able to get on the board again with 3:11 to go on Lee Stroman's strike, putting the Hornets up 2-0 going into halftime.

Stroman would add her second goal of the game late in the second half to ice it for the Hornets. Stroman said that the early goal set the tempo for the rest of the game.

"Scoring an early goal was huge," Stroman said. "We came out pumped up and ready to go and scoring early got our adrenaline going even more."

The Hornets defense was even better than the offense, allowing Watertown just two shots on goalie Jordan Berger, both shots coming in the final minute of the game. Meredith Crofton lead the way for the defense.

"We wanted to keep them out of the circle and we did an awesome job of it," Grant said. "Defensively we were amazing."

Grant also credited Amelia Cohen and Meg Savoie for their play off the bench.

"Our bench players were key," Grant said. "Not only did they give us fresh legs and our starters a rest, but they played well when they were in. We didn't miss a beat no matter who was in the game."

With the Hornets moving on to the semifinals and looking to go to the finals, they know what they need to do; change nothing.

"We just need to keep playing the way we've been playing," Stroman said. "There isn't a need to change anything. We are a great team and when we play the way we have been we are tough to beat."

Grant agrees that the Hornets do not need to change the way they play, and she also hopes that they keep the killer instinct that they showed against Watertown.

"We need to keep up the intensity, heart and teamwork," Grant said. "They have all been key to our success and if we keep it up we will be in good shape."