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By Michael Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Following a 1-1 tie with No. 5 Wellesley on October 3, the Walpole High School varsity field hockey bounced back with two straight shutout victories over Framingham (5-0) and Milton (6-0) this past week to stay at No. 3 in the latest Boston Globe state field hockey rankings, while also staying in the hunt for the Bay State Conference crown.
The Porkers (9-0-2, 7-0-2) got the offense going early against both the Flyers and Wildcats, potting goals in the first five minutes of each game to establish an early 1-0 lead. Against Framingham, Alex Rodia scored a pair of goals in the first half to go along with a goal by Nicole Griffin, putting Walpole ahead 3-0 at the half. Griffin notched her second of the game followed by a tally from Celia Walsh late in the second half to push the lead to five, which would hold up as the final mark.
The script was extremely similar for the Porkers against Milton as it was with Framingham, as Rodia and Griffin each notched first half goals to put the Rebels up 2-0 at the midway point. In the second half, the Porkers exploded with four goals to put the game away with two coming off the stick of Walsh, another from Rodia, and one from Sydney Scales.
Because Walpole and Wellesley tied in both of their meetings this season, the Bay State Conference title could come down to whichever team falters in any of their final six contests, and if not, goal differential could decide which of these two field hockey heavyweights earn the No. 1 overall seed in the MIAA South Sectionals.
The Porkers will look to continue their unbeaten ways when they travel to Natick on October 19, followed by a trip down I-95 to Moses Brown (Rhode Island) on October 21.
For funny and incisive sports analysis, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter at @fLAno0, or read his blog at www.flannylive.wordpress.com.
