Playoff march to a repeat begins

By Ken Chaisson
Hometown Weekly Sports Reporter

The two-time defending Division 1 state champion Walpole Porkers’ field hockey team turned Halloween into a ‘trick and treat’ against Central Catholic (CC) beating the Raiders, 7-0, in the round of 32 of the state tournament.

The senior-laden, experienced Porkers finished the regular season with a record of 16-1-1 earning them the top seed in this year’s Division 1 state tournament.

The Porkers only loss in the regular season was to division 3 Uxbridge, 6-1. Uxbridge cruised through all Massachusetts competition this season and is currently ranked second in the USA. Walpole’s last loss was also to Uxbridge in 2023. Uxbridge has seven players committed to Division 1 colleges including one player on the U-18 USA national team. Sometimes a loss is a good learning experience.

Walpole beat quality teams this year including Natick, Wellesley, Winchester, Bishop Feehan and Canton. Walpole tied division 3 powerhouse Sandwich, 1-1, in the regular season finale. Walpole also scrimmaged Watertown earlier in the week in preparation for the playoffs.

Central Catholic was 7-10-1 coming into the game with Walpole. They beat Methuen in double overtime, 1-0, in a tournament play-in game.

Against CC, coach Jen Quinn’s squad was led by captain Kate Schneider’s Halloween hat ‘trick’ plus two assists which was a ‘treat’ for the home team. Schneider continually stickhandled through the Raider defense to create scoring opportunities.

Schneider assisted on Caroline Handwerk opening goal at 6:55 of the first quarter. Schneider then added her first goal unassisted at 4:43. Riley Halloran scored off a corner with 1:24 to go. The first quarter ended with Walpole up, 3-0.

At 6:43 of the second quarter, CC swapped goalies. A minute later, Emily Dunn was left unattended at the left post to greet the new goaltender with Walpole’s fourth goal.

In the waning seconds of the second quarter, Grace Hagan started the play with a long cross field pass to her sister Emily. Emily then drove the length of the field before passing in front to Schneider who potted her second goal of the game. The entire play was a textbook offensive maneuver.

CC had zero shots on Walpole keeper Nora Cummings during the first half. The half ended with the Porkers up 5-0.

Schneider completed her hat trick at 1:29 of the third quarter to put Walpole up 6-0. Caitlin Caulfield finished the scoring at the 6:49 mark of the fourth quarter.

Walpole peppered the CC goaltenders throughout with 40 shots on goal along with six penalty corners while holding the Raiders to two shots on net and one corner.

At this time of the year, coaches’ rankings power rankings and previous results rarely matter. It’s how a team plays that day against that opponent that separates victory from defeat.