WALTHAM – Hustle and coronary heart.
The 18th-seeded Waltham subject hockey group (12-4-3) leaned on each other for each Monday evening, gutting out a 3-1 Div. 1 first-round win over No. 15 Lexington for this system’s first state event win in 17 years – and its first 12-win season since 2007.
A livid second-half rally from the Minutemen (9-7-3) almost wiped away a two-goal first half lead, however the Hawks stored their composure.
Three totally different gamers scored, together with a penalty stroke from standout midfielder Mia Kearney within the remaining 30 seconds to ice it. She, senior captain Miyana Bahl and junior goalie Nina Joannidis (4 saves) had their fingerprints throughout an intense win, as did fellow senior captains Juliana Fry (help) and Jenna Mahoney.
With simply three seniors, Waltham is off to the second spherical to play No. 2 Franklin.
“It’s unimaginable, these women have labored so laborious,” mentioned Waltham head coach Taylor Scafidi. “I believe a giant a part of immediately was getting them to consider in themselves. … We stored saying, ‘All there may be left to do is play.’ Go on the market, it’s who exhibits up immediately. They usually confirmed up for one another, large time.”
The Hawks knew what was at stake heading into the matchup, and centered on beginning robust once more in opposition to Lexington, who they tied 2-2 within the common season.
Waltham generated a 7-1 pictures benefit within the first half. Targets in every quarter from sophomore Meri Guden and freshman Leah Browne gave it a 2-0 lead, whereas Bahl and sophomore Avery Donovan every stood out to diffuse virtually each attacking bid Lexington introduced.
“I simply assume we actually depend on vitality,” Bahl mentioned. “That’s a very large factor for us. We predict for all of the video games that we performed very well, vitality was how we received. … Simply serving to one another, feeding off one another’s vitality.”
Every objective got here on corners, a significant level of emphasis.
Lexington’s protection denied Waltham the circle for a lot of the first quarter, however the Hawks simply wanted one to attract the nook and get on the board. Guden completed off a three-shot frenzy simply 5:07 into the sport.
Early within the second quarter, a damaged nook play was saved by a ship towards the center from Bahl, which Kearney pushed in entrance, and Browne tipped house for the 2-0 lead.
“We spend a lot time engaged on (corners),” Bahl mentioned. “That was a significant theme this 12 months – adapting when issues don’t go proper. That was big for us.”
Lexington got here out of the break on hearth, lastly breaking into the final layer of protection by way of senior ahead Olive Glenn and 40-point freshman Charlee Creighton. Creighton centered one risk in entrance early that Glenn simply deflected extensive, and Creighton had one other spectacular transfer that Joannidis kicked away for a highlight-reel save.
Glenn lastly bought the Minutemen on the scoreboard with 13 seconds left within the third quarter, however that’s all Waltham allowed.
“They put one another first,” Scafidi mentioned. “They put their teammates first, they made positive that they had every others’ again. … Serving to one another keep very composed, that’s been a giant focus this 12 months.”
Bahl, the Twin County League Foley Participant of the Yr, was a significant standout throughout the defensive stand.
“She at all times is, she’s just like the rock of our group the final two years,” Scafidi mentioned. “I’m simply so happy with her. She exhibits up when she wants to point out up always. She by no means fluctuates.”
Kearney made a number of large performs within the midfield to restrict promising transitions, and Donovan had two signature move breakups and a bevy of takeaways.
Waltham’s protection allowed simply 5 pictures.
“The three of us, together with our goalie Nina, work very well collectively,” Bahl mentioned. “Us simply trusting one another is a very large factor. Saying, ‘I bought your again, I’m proper there.’ Even when it’s not your proper place, we’re at all times good there.”
