West Haven, C.T- The New Haven field hockey team took to their home turf to honor their three graduating seniors, before taking the 5-3 win over the Purple Knights of Saint Michaels College. The game featured five different goals scorers, all combining to push the Chargers to victory.
Saint Michaels got the game started, as they found the Chargers defensive end within a minute of play. Opening the scoring Saint Michaels would find the first goal in eight minutes of play and adding to their lead with another at 10:22. The Purple Knights maintained possession a majority of the first quarter, aside from one offensive effort, resulting in a shot from Olivia Chase (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus).
The second quarter would turn towards New Haven, as they would take control from the start of the whistle. Finding the first goal of the afternoon, was through a combination of Chargers, pushing their way up the field. Johannah Lee (State College, Pa./State College Area) gaining possession in the midfield, finding a pass up field to Kat Trammel (Sandy Hook, Conn./Newtown). Kat Trammel (Sandy Hook, Conn./Newtown) outside of the circle, would send a through pass to the middle of the circle finding Bryanna Courneen, who would spin around one defender and send it to the corner for Abby Nixon (Wrentham, Mass./King Phillip Regional). Abby Nixon (Wrentham, Mass./King Phillip Regional) sending it opposite corner, where freshman Emma Beaujouan (Concord, N.H./Concord) would send it to the backboard for the first Charger's goal of the game.
After halftime, it was only up for the Chargers. Grabbing a total of four goals throughout the last two quarters of the game. Kat Trammel (Sandy Hook, Conn./Newtown) finding the second goal of the game, off a corner. Trammel inserting short to Kelli Jacobson (North Branford, Conn./North Branford), who would sweep the ball towards the post. Trammel regaining position from the inserted spot, would head towards post and tip the sweep into the net, equaling the score 2-2.
The Chargers took the first lead of the game, when Femke Boers (The Hague, Netherlands/Brasschaat, Belgium) would insert a Saint Michaels restart on the sideline, taking it baseline, and sending a reverse shot passed the Purple Knights goalkeeper into the net. As the third quarter would come to an end, the scoring would not.
Within two minutes from the fourth quarter, New Haven would find back-to-back goals, topping them off at five goals on the afternoon. The fourth coming from another a failed clear in the backfield for Saint Michaels. New Haven's press applying pressure in the backfield, would intercept a pass, sending a sweep into the circle. Audrey Larson (Gilroy, Calif./Gilroy) in the circle, would find herself in a scramble at the feet of the goalkeeper, where a reverse shot from Larson would cross the goal line and put the Chargers up by two.
The final goal from the Chargers would come from a corner, Trammel with the insert to the top of the circle to the stick of Eliza Caven (Caledon, Ontario/Humberview Secondary). Caven with room would take a rocket of a straight shot, finding the backboard and topping it off from the Chargers at five goals. Saint Michaels would find one more goal before time ran out on the clock, but the Chargers second half efforts would give them enough space to take home the win.
Overall, the Chargers would find 19 shots, placing 13 of those on goal, and finding a total of 11 corners. The New Haven roster bolstered numerous players finding shots on goal, lead by Kat trammel and Eliza Caven (Caledon, Ontario/Humberview Secondary), with three shots and two forcing saves. Femke Boers (The Hague, Netherlands/Brasschaat, Belgium) would follow with three shots, one on goal, and three other Chargers would find two shots on the afternoon. New Haven took the win with two different goalkeepers, Ally Saigh (Grosse Point Woods, Mich./Grosse Point North) and Hallie Reiger (Oklahoma City, Okla./Casady School), making a total of 20 saves on the afternoon.
With this game, the Chargers will play one more conference game against the Panthers of Adelphi University, before ending their season with a non-conference game against the Rams of West Chester. The Adelphi Game is scheduled for Tuesday, October 24th, with a start time of 7:00 p.m.
