By FRAN SYPEK
Special to The Westfield News
WEST SPRINGFIELD — Anyone watching the Frontier Regional and Southwick Western Massachusetts Division 2 field hockey semifinal needed to look at the scoreboard to realize that it was a close game.
The play on the field suggested otherwise. Frontier played like a reigning champion and top seed and dominated every facet of the game.
Yet for most of the contest, it was close. Frontier had to cling to a 1-0 lead until there was 7 minutes, 34 seconds remaining.
That’s when Jordyn Roberts gave her team some breathing room with a goal off a corner and Frontier advanced to the final following a 2-0 victory over No. 4 Southwick at Clark Field Saturday.
SYDNEY ROGERS
“That goal was a huge momentum-builder,” Frontier coach Missy Mahar said. “We knew a 1-0 game could switch in a heartbeat.”
Frontier (17-2-0) will meet Greenfield (9-7-3) in the final Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Clark Field. Greenfield advanced after a 1-0 double-overtime triumph over Smith Academy.
How dominate were the Red Hawks? Just look at the shots on goal.
Frontier outshot Southwick 22-0 and the Red Hawks had eight corners compared to two for the Rams.
“Normally, a lot of those shots go in,’’ Roberts said. “We needed our defense to hold us together.”
That was no small feat considering Southwick has one of the region’s most dynamic players in Sydney Rogers. Playing on turf made the speedy Rogers even more dangerous.
“Southwick played through right to the end and they were intense,” Mahar said. “In the second half, we executed our game and used our passing to our advantage.”
But Frontier’s defense stepped up in a big way, neutralizing Rogers and the rest of the Rams. It was the type of defensive play tourney-tested teams like the Red Hawks have come to expect.
“Our offense would not be as good as they are without our defense keeping possession of the ball,” Mahar said.
By the second half, Mahar could sense her team was getting frustrated. Southwick goalie Sarah Powers kept thwarting the Red Hawks with some incredible saves to keep her team in the game.
One thing Mahar did not want was nerves to play a factor in such an important game. The Red Hawks remained confident and in control, but the players knew that one bad play or fluke goal could mean going into overtime, where anything can happen.
“Toward the end of the first half, Missy had to call a timeout to question our intensity,” Roberts said. “It really worked, because if she hadn’t, we might have come out flat in the second half.”
Katt Miner and Celia Speth were among the standouts on defense for the Red Hawks.
“Our defense has held their own for most of the season,” Mahar said. “They are a solid unit and they trust one another.”
Mindy Esposito set up Roberts’ insurance goal. She collected the ball off a corner and put it right on Roberts’ stick.
Instinctively, Roberts was stationed at the far post and finished the play with a tap-in.
“That’s where I’m supposed to be, on that corner,” Roberts said. “Missy always says ‘go to the post,’ and that’s where I went.”
The Red Hawks remained confident after the goal, but knew they needed to finish strong.
“My goal gave us less pressure,” Roberts said. “We were getting frustrated.”
Mackenzie Patterson scored the lone goal of the opening half, her team-leading 17th. The Red Hawks moved into the circle and did a nice job passing the ball.
They got off several shots that Powers was able to reject. But Camille Alli collected a rebound and dished off to Patterson, who converted the feed at 24:14 to provide Frontier with a 1-0 lead.
Powers remained busy during the remainder of the first half. She foiled several strong bids and the Red Hawks rang a shot off the post to keep it a one-goal game.
“We got this far because we work at it,” Roberts said. “We know we have a target on out backs, but we are excited to be here.” – Courtesy of The Hampshire Gazette
