GREENFIELD — The Mahar field hockey team’s season came to end after a 10-0 quarterfinal loss to top-seeded Greenfield, Wednesday afternoon.
The young Senators (10-6-3) simply could not stay with the experience, chemistry and talent of the two-time defending Western Massachusetts Division 2 champions.
“They have been playing together for a long time,” Mahar coach Laurie Saisa said of Greenfield.
The Senators were without leading scorer Anna Wetherbee, who missed the game with a concussion. Sophia Whitman played wing with Gracie Marsh moving to Wetherbee’s spot.
Whitman played well for the Senators, but Greenfield’s offense kept possession for most of the game.
The Green Wave advanced to the semifinals and will play the winner of No. 4 South Hadley and No. 5 Mohawk next week.
Lilly Fellows and Aimee Dupont played their final game for Mahar. Wetherbee, also a senior, made the trip with her team and watched from the sidelines.
Bella Marigliano made six saves in the first half for Mahar before making way for Caroline Chase, who made 12 saves in the second half.
Raegan Hickey scored Greenfield’s first goal about 10 minutes into the game. If there is one thing Greenfield needs to work on it’s starting out a little faster.
“We need to start the game fired up from the very beginning,” Greenfield coach Erin Thayer said. “It’s a mental thing. We often think about who is on the other side instead of someone on the other side. It doesn’t matter who is on the other side we have to play our game.”
The Senators were playing defense for most of the game, rarely breaking out for offensive chances.
After Hickey’s goal the Green Wave did not let up until the final horn. Hickey finished with two goals and two assists.
“We have been working on some specific things in practice,” Thayer said. “I definitely saw them following through and carrying out some of that stuff today. We did a lot of things right today.”
Katie Haselton also had four points for the Green Wave, with a goal and three assists.
Lillia Kachelmeyer, Madyson Kucheski and Audrey Bresciano added two goals each.
Racquel Provost added a goal and an assist while Kaylah Eggsware chipped in with an assist.
Sam Smith did not have to make a save in the shutout for Greenfield.
