Southwick’s Sydney Rogers battles a Franklin Tech player for possession of the ball yesterday. Rogers scored four first-half goals to help lead the Rams to a 7-0 win. (Photo by Chris Putz)
SOUTHWICK – Southwick-Tolland Regional High School field hockey coach Jordan Baillargeon has made it a point to stress continuity and stability this season for her team. She hopes it is a point well taken in more ways than one.
One season ago, Southwick missed out on the western Massachusetts playoffs – by one point. This year, the Rams are seeking out a postseason berth.
Southwick took the first step toward that goal by getting off on the right foot, blanking Franklin Tech 7-0 at home yesterday. Rams’ sophomore forward Sydney Rogers chipped in four goals, all in the first half.
“We worked really hard to come out strong,” Rogers said. “We worked our butts off to start (1-0). The passes, the communication – we worked together as a team. We’re a big family.”
Rogers came through for her “sisters,” steering two goals into the net within about a 2-minute span a third of the way into the first half.
In the eighth minute, Rogers slid the stick low in between two defenders like a pool player hitting a cue ball, poking a rebound past the goalie for the team’s first goal. Two minutes later she flicked another ball – off a rebound – into the goal for a 2-0 lead.
Southwick continued to accelerate on offense.
Kristen Rechenberger, left, slams a shot into the net for a Southwick goal. (Photo by Chris Putz)
Katy Corey made it 3-0 with a goal midway through the opening half. Less than two minutes later, Rogers dribbled the ball out in front of the Franklin Tech net, settled into an open space untouched, and scored easily point-blank.
Rogers notched another goal with 10 minutes remaining in the half. The sophomore forward launched a shot further out from her previous attempt. Franklin Tech goalie Emily Sullivan attempted to make a kick-save, but the ball trickled beneath her foot into the back of the net.
The rout was on.
Kristen Rechenberger and Jackie Lamoureaux tallied goals in the 19th and 27th minutes to make it a 7-0 lead. Lamoureux’s goal was the result of a 3-on-1 breakaway.
“We had good circulation of the ball,” coach Baillargeon said. “That helps.”
Bailargeon said the opening day victory should boost the team’s confidence with a tough opponent ahead in Palmer on the road Friday. But she also offered a word of caution.
“I hope we go in confident, not cocky,” she said. “Our passing is there. Our communication is there. We are already strides ahead (of where we were at this point last year).
Southwick goalies Sarah Bodzinski and Sarah Power earned a combined shutout, splitting time in net.
