NORTHFIELD — In field hockey, one bounce your way can change the entire dynamic of a game.
Pioneer saw that first hand on Tuesday.
Taking on Hampshire Regional in the season opener, the Panthers were struggling with possession early before Riley Thayer drove the ball into the Raider circle. Thayer fired a shot on goal that was blocked, but the freshman followed it up and drove it into the cage from the right side to give Pioneer a 1-0 lead in the first quarter.
Behind stout defense, that lead held until the final whistle as the Panthers snuck away with a 1-0 season-opening County League victory.
“We’ve been working for this,” Pioneer coach Kerry Baird said. “They deserve this and needed it. This is just the beginning for us.”
Both defenses kept the ball away from their goalies, with Hampshire keeper Olivia Labrie coming up with two saves and Kelly Baird making one for the Panthers.
Following a scoreless second quarter, Hampshire had multiple chances to even the score at the end of the third quarter. The Raiders earned four consecutive penalty corners, but Pioneer was able to stop all of them and clear the final one to close out the quarter unscathed. The first three stops came in front of the cage, as the Panthers committed an infraction each time to force another corner.
“We pulled it out,” Baird said. “We kept the pressure on and our defense was excellent.”
While the Panther defense limited the opportunities, Hampshire had its best chance to tie the game midway through the fourth on a penalty stroke. Jaiden Kudelka broke through the Pioneer back line and had a breakaway but was fouled, leading to the penalty opportunity.
Silvia Bastek took it for the Raiders, but clanged it off the left post. Baird felt good about her goalie Kelly Baird’s chances of making a stop if the shot had been on target.
“She plays third base in softball,” Kerry Baird said, “so she has very quick reflexes. I was nervous because she’s never done that in goal before. I didn’t know if she knew technically what to do but I knew if she could get the ball, she could stop it.”
Kelly Baird had another great play late to limit a Hampshire scoring chance. The Raiders came up with a 2-on-0 breakaway, but Baird rushed the Raider ball handler, forcing an off target pass that went out of bounds.
The Panthers are back in action Thursday, squaring off with Palmer in Northfield.
Franklin Tech 2, Belchertown 1 — Kaitlin Trudeau buried the game-winning goal with just 1 minute, 30 seconds remaining in regulation to lift the visiting Eagles on Tuesday.
Trudeau blasted a tough-angled shot past Belchertown goalie Eliza Rothstein to break a 1-1 tie. Franklin Tech survived a defensive penalty corner with no time remaining.
Lilly Ross tallied in the third quarter for Tech, with Trudeau picking up the assist. Maddie Markwell made eight saves in net, and Kendra Campbell was a defensive standout.
“The girls worked really hard, made adjustments and found a way to get the win,” Tech coach Rian Lovett lauded.