If going to play the defending Western Massachusetts Division 2 champion in the first round of the playoffs wasn’t hard enough, the Mahar field hockey team will have to contend without its leading scorer.
Anna Wetherbee is out for the No. 8 Senators (9-6-3) after taking a ball off the head in practice last week and ending up with a concussion, according to coach Laurie Saisa.
“She is our powerhouse and highest scorer,” Saisa said.
Mahar plays the Green Wave (16-2-0) on Wednesday in Greenfield at 4 p.m.
Sophia Whitman could move up to take Wetherbee’s spot in the lineup along with Gracie Marsh, who could move from the wing to forward to compensate for Wetherbee’s absence.
Any additional tinkering with the lineup could be negative for the Senators
“All season they have been trained,” Saisa said. “Where they need to place the ball and where their outlets are. We are going to stick with what we have.”
Lilly Fellows will have to play without her good friend and teammate for her final playoff run for the Senators.
Fellows has 13 goals on the season, with most of them coming off the stick of Wetherbee.
No. 1 Greenfield is the two-time defending champion. The two teams last played in 2016 when the Green Wave won 7-2.
“Having the girls experience a tournament game is huge,” Saisa said. “The routine, everything. Great for our younger girls.”
Aimee Dupont leads Mahar’s defense with younger sister Hannah Dupont controlling the midfield.
Bella Marigliano will be in net for Mahar.
