TURNERS FALLS — The Turners Falls field hockey team needs a big finish to the season to propel itself into state tournament contention.
It got things started on the right foot Friday against Mohawk Trail.
The Thunder scored a goal in each quarter while Elejandra Bartolon stopped three shots and Connor Herzig made two saves as Turners came away with a 4-1 Valley League victory over the visiting Warriors.
The Thunder (5-9, 5-7) close out their season against Smith Academy and Mahar next week.
“These next few games we should hopefully do well,” Turners coach Renee Tela said. “I’m hoping we do. We’re coming along. This was a good game. Mohawk is good competition.”
While the results haven’t gone Mohawk Trail’s way this season, coach Jenn Pease has been pleased with how the Warriors (1-12, 1-10) have progressed throughout the season.
“The growth is incredible to watch on this team,” Pease said. “I’m pleased w ith their good sportsmanship on the fi eld.”
Alex Quezada opened the scoring for the Thunder, putting one in the back of the cage with 8:24 to play in the first quarter. Ledwin Villafana gave Turners a 2-0 lead at the half, scoring off an assist from Quezada with 4:03 to play in the second quarter.
Brooke Thayer was the third goal-scorer for the Thunder, tapping in a deflection up front with 4:56 to play in the third quarter. Quezada had the assist on the play. Quezada closed out the scoring for Turners with 6:03 left in the game, tallying on an assist from Thayer.
Like Pease, Tela said she has seen major growth from her team throughout the year, which showed in their offensive production on Friday.
“We have so many new players that in the first couple games, we struggled just getting the ball down the field,” Tela said. “We work so well together now. It’s coming together.”
Emmy Sisum put Mohawk Trail on the scoreboard with 3:24 to play, blasting in a rebound off Herzig’s pad. The Warriors had a chance to cut into the lead in the second quarter when they were awarded a penalty stroke, but Bartolon made the save to keep Mohawk Trail off the scoreboard before the half.
Pease said she’s hoping her team can close out its season on a high note, with the Warriors playing Mahar on Monday before playing Smith Academy twice to end the regular season.
“I like these games,” Pease said. “We have 13 players on this team who have never played before this year. Finding our strength has been hard but we’re coming together as a team. We could have played better today. I think next year we’ll be a contender.”
Frontier 1, Belchertown 1 — Ashley Taylor staked the Redhawks to a 1-0 halftime lead, but the visiting Orioles notched the equalizer in the fourth quarter on a goal by Lauren Cooper, leading to a 1-1 independent draw on Friday in South Deerfield.
Claire Kirkendall assisted on Taylor’s goal for Frontier, which now sits at 7-2-4 on the season. Goalie Ella Flanders stopped two shots in the Redhawks’ net.
Frontier 7, Mt. Everett 1 — Brady Burch and Matt Sicard tallied two goals apiece, and the Redhawks rolled to a 7-1 Moriarty League victory on Friday.
The Redhawks (7-2-3, 7-1-2) led 5-1 at halftime, and fell actually fell behind in the game’s first minute after an own goal. They rallied quickly, with goals from Nico Fasulo and Devin Niles righting the ship. Aiden Valderrama also tallied in the win, while Max Rajballie chipped in two assists and goalie Owen Babb stopped two shots.
Mahar 4, Lenox 2 — Two goals each from Gavin Sullivan and Dom Whitman got the Senators a much-needed Moriarty League win on Friday in Orange.
Mahar (5-7-1, 2-7-1) led 2-0 at halftime and 3-0 in the second half before the Millionaires clapped back with a pair to make it a one-score game. The hosts tacked on an insurance marker to put it away, and the team received assists from Whitman, Sullivan and Lucas Isrow.
“We absolutely needed this one so it was good to get off to a good start,” Mahar coach Dan Guertin said.
Tristan Gaj made 10 saves in the Sens net, while Mitch Krasco also stopped a shot in relief.
Athol 3, Sci-Tech 1 — Tony Carbone netted a pair of goals, as the Bears picked up their first win of the season in a 3-1 Schmid League victory over the Cybercats on Friday.
Brayden York also notched a goal for Athol (1-10-3), while Angel Castillo assisted on all three strikes.
■The Greenfield Middle School team blanked Great Falls, 5-0, behind three goals from Grayson Thomas. Cody Yetter also tallied in the victory.
Frontier 3, Renaissance 0 — Maddie Bennet, Maddie Fagan and Kylie Laford were the Frontier goal scorers in Friday’s Pioneer League North victory at Marshall Roy Field in Springfield.
The Redhawks (8-4-2, 7-1-1) did all their damage in the first half. Assists were notched by Sydney Tor, Chloe Felton Emerick and Anna Petrin, and goalie Cady Wells Robinson recorded two saves for the shutout.
Turners 3, Athol 0 — Taylor Greene dished out 17 assists and Madi Liimatainen put down seven kills as the Thunder notched a 3-0 sweep in Northern League play on Friday at Mallet Gymnasium in Athol.
Greene added three kills and three aces for Turners (13-2, 12-1), while Limmatainen amassed six aces from the service line. Stephanie Peterson tossed in five kills and four aces in the victory.
Olivia Mayer and Alma White each had four kills for the Bears, which also received 11 digs from Alyssa Logan.
Mohawk Trail 3, Franklin Tech 2 — Not much separated the Warriors and Eagles on Friday, but host Mohawk Trail pulled through in the end to snag a wild 25-18, 22-25, 25-22, 14-25, 15-13 Northern League victory in Buckland.
Palmer King paced the Mohawk Trail offense with 11 kills, while Hannah Plesnar added five kills in the win. Riley Giard and Grace Davenport added three kills apiece, while Maddie Lamorie dished out 12 assists and King had eight. The Warriors (7-3, 7-3) racked up 19aces as a team, with King (7) and Giard (6) firing from the service line.
Franklin Tech (10-6, 7-5) received contributions from Lea Chapman (2 aces, 10 kills, 5 digs, 4 blocks), Skylei LaPan (4 aces, 5 digs), Cordelia Guerin (3 kills, 8 digs) and Kitana Rodríguez (4 aces).
Pioneer 3, Mahar 1 — Avery Johnson put down three kills and nine digs to go with four aces, as the Panthers earned a 3-1 Northern League win on Friday.
Other contributors for Pioneer (2-10) included Emma Petersen (4 aces, 7 digs, 1 block, 2 kills), Whitney Dunklee (2 aces, 2 digs 1 kill, 1 block), Olivia Hammond (4 aces, 1 block 8 digs) and Addie Harrington (4 aces, 9 digs).
Mahar’s Saylor Kegans put down seven aces and four kills, while Mia Santana (3 aces, 3 assists) and Emilia Ramos (2 aces, 1 kill, 1 dig) also aided the visitors.