Avonlea Cummings
Hometown Weekly Sports Reporter
Laces were securely fastened to cleats, hair expertly braided and tied into ponytails, and the atmosphere buzzed with anticipation and excitement as the Needham field hockey team hosted their inaugural playoff match against the Newton North Tigers. In a hard-fought battle, both teams displayed unwavering determination, never relenting until the very last second. Needham rose to the challenge and emerged victorious with a 3-2 win.
In the opening quarter, the Rockets sprinted across the field at full throttle. The girls maintained their composure, showcasing their exceptional skills by executing swift passes across the field. Emmy Connors struck first, eluding the Newton North defense and launching the ball towards the backboard, giving Needham a 1-0 lead with seven minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Following a scoreless second quarter, with Needham still controlling the majority of possession, Newton North upped the intensity in the third quarter. Surprised by this sudden burst of energy, Needham was taken aback by the Tigers' offensive drive, leading to two quick goals by Newton North. Fueled by their determination to salvage the match and their season, Needham responded to Newton North's change of pace, with Lily Schmalz leveling the score with just 34 seconds left in the third quarter.
The fourth quarter was a neck-and-neck battle as both teams vied for the upper hand. Needham's Jillian Flueckiger reclaimed the lead with seven minutes to go, only to see it tied once again when Newton North earned a penalty corner. After successfully executing a clean corner, the game was suddenly knotted at 3-3. However, the referees blew their whistles, prompting discussions among captains and coaches. After a few minutes, the goal was removed from the scoreboard, and Needham was back in the lead, now at 3-2.
Upon inquiry about the goal's nullification, it was clarified that an illegal substitution occurred on the field as the corner was called, rendering the goal ineligible for the Tigers. Newton North had another opportunity with a corner but came up short, ultimately securing victory for the Rockets.
Head coach Stephanie Magni shared her perspective on the game and the challenges that tested her team's resolve.
“I think we came out very strong I would argue the first half, we were really composed, we were passing very well, and really working as a team. We had a lot more opportunities than the one goal we just weren’t able to put the ball in. Newton came out a lot stronger in the second half as opposed to the first half. It wasn’t that we weren’t strong, I think when they really stepped it up, we were a bit caught off guard. It was a huge team effort, Megan Ledbury is our center back and she’s a senior captain. She was a very big part of our talks during timeouts, and in-between quarters, being very composed and calming people down. Katelyn Birnbaum has been incredible for us… when we needed someone to really step up for us when we went down, we bumped Katelyn up to right-wing… it was a complete momentum shift,” said Magni.
The Rockets traveled to Acton-Boxboro for their sweet-16 match in the postseason on Tuesday, November 7th. Head coach Magni shared the biggest takeaways her team will bring to their next game.
“I think the biggest takeaway from tonight is that you never know what to expect, anticipating that every team is going to play you like they don’t want it to be their last game. It’s how we got to play them, and not to let the little things get to you, and remembering even when you’re down, you can come back and still pull it off,” said Magni.
