Walpole dominates Natick in Bay State League field hockey clash

NATICK Any tension the No Walpole field hockey group might ve felt from last year s scoreless tie against Natick the only challenge it didn t win simmered when it instead focused on giving the other half of its seniors a starting opportunity in the rematch early Saturday morning Whatever little tension that remained altogether evaporated when that group scored less than two minutes in for the Porkers - kickstarting a - Bay State Conference win over the No RedHawks - - in yet another Div declaration Goalie Natalie Boyer saves and a stingy Natick defense limited the damage despite Walpole s typical starters subbing in holding off a limited long waves of heavy pressure But two goals in the second quarter were more than enough to back the early goal and Kate Schneider s two goals in the fourth put the finishing touches on a signature showing against a Natick group ranked No in the latest MIAA Div power rankings Final shots on goal were - To Natick s credit they are definitely a way better association this year they had specific skill they moved the ball well reported Walpole head coach Jen Quinn The win will help our rankings that s good There were a couple comments here and there from our players about last year s tie beforehand but I think we were pretty confident coming in Whether it be the lens of the typical starters ability to rally or the other seniors ability to set the tone against a strong tournament threat Quinn and the coaching staff exhibited a lot of that confidence in the entire initiative with their decision to start only one Kendal Cusack of their typical field starters The group needed less than two minutes to apply pressure early and draw a corner Cusack shot a strong drive to the left corner which inserter Caitlin Caulfield tipped in for the - lead Natick made a sparse transitions to the attacking end through Caylee Lynch and Jolee Flynn but Walpole mostly kept the pressure up on the RedHawks side of the field The only one that was out there that s a typical starter was Cusack and they looked awesome Quinn noted They looked so good They moved the ball well they looked composed They really did a good job so that was nice Those kids anywhere else they d be like studs It s just nice to see Kaylee Walsh Anna Jolley and Caulfield especially stood out with the starting opportunity Natick limited Walpole to just one goal in the first but attacking pressure dialed up in the second with the usual starting lineup back in Freshman Eva Karacalidis and senior Emily Hagan anchored the effort to limit Natick s breakouts while Cusack Ella Dacey Nadia Michienzi and Grace Hagan promptly broke up whatever got through Heavy defensive traffic and quality play from Boyer held off a inadequate dangerous balls in front with Schneider threatening on a great number of of them But Emily Dunn in the end finished one for a - lead midway through the second and Dacey added another on a corner Starters came back out in the third quarter which Walpole mostly dominated by keeping the ball on the attacking half Natick s defense allowed just four shots on goal in a scoreless frame Schneider got on the stat sheet in the fourth quarter after threatening all competition tipping in a Cusack two assists deflection A sparse minutes later she added her second goal on a crafty move to get around Boyer Quinn felt like this was a major showing of the project s strength I think often our best competition is practice she noted It just shows Like this day where they can stand out and control the contest and only have one starter out there that wasn t even in her position It was nice to see others step up