Wolverine field hockey earns senior night win

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By Michael Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor

Coming off consecutive hard fought road wins against Bellingham (1-0) and Medway (2-1), the Westwood High School varsity field hockey team returned home on Wednesday to play host to Ashland for their senior night. Following a gritty performance, the Wolverines (8-4-2) pulled out a 2-1 victory.

Senior captain Tess Healey fired home the rebound of a penalty corner attempt to give the Wolverines a 1-0 lead midway through the first half. Ashland tied it on a fast break as time was winding down in the first half and the game entered the break knotted at one.

The Wolverines came out in the second half controlling the tempo and the majority of the time of possession, but chance after chance either went wide or was kicked away by the Ashland net-minder. With about ten minutes left to play in the match, Westwood was finally rewarded for all of their hard work in the offensive end when Colleen Dalton fired home a goal off of a rebound of a shot by Healey, giving the Wolverines back the lead and the chance to kill some clock and secure the victory.

Following the goal by Dalton, Westwood played perfectly conservatively, not allowing a single shot on net during the final ten minutes and locking down the area in front of their cage to ensure no fluke goal would foil a senior night victory. Ashland made a late push up the field in the final 30 seconds in an attempt to tie it, but the ball was defended away and cleared out of the zone as the clock struck zeroes.

The Wolverines came away with a big 2-1 win to improve to 7-4-2 within the conference and 8-4-2 overall.

The Wolverines will conclude the regular season at home against arch rival Holliston on October 27 before getting after it in the MIAA State Tournament, which begins November 1.

For funny and incisive sports analysis, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter at @fLAno0, or read his blog at www.flannylive.wordpress.com.