ATHOL — The defense has been good, and the goaltending has been excellent for the Athol field hockey.
The offense just hasn’t been there, and it showed in 1-0 loss to Amherst Regional on Wednesday.
“It has a lot to do with our age,” Athol coach Emily Hall said. “As well as confidence in our play.”
The Red Raiders did not manage a shot against the Hurricanes.
Ryley Pond made 12 saves for the Red Raiders, including a flurry of stops late in the game to keep her team within a goal.
If the Red Raiders made a push on offense, it was up the sideline with the ball on the stick of Sadey Lehtomaki.
“I’ve improved my stick work,” Lehtomaki said. “Being able to bring the ball up and down the field.”
Lehtomaki runs indoor track in the winter and plays softball in the spring for Athol. She started playing field hockey in elementary school. The improvements are there for the Red Raiders collectively.
“We are definitely able to pass better,” Lehtomaki said. “We have learned to play as a team.”
Although in field hockey, a quick run up the sideline does not generate much offense.
“She (Lehtomaki) has a good hit,” Hall said. “She knows this because I am always on her about it, but she needs to go to the net. She is not the only one who does this, a lot my players get stuck in the corner. It’s hard in field hockey to get out of that corner.”
Sora Green scored for Amherst at the 24-minute, 24-second mark of the first half.
Toward the end of the half, the Red Raiders drew two penalty corners but could not get a shot off against the Hurricanes’ defense.
Reily Polana had an active game for Athol’s defense.
Kassidy Swan made some nice plays toward the net for Athol, but Amherst’s defense swallowed them up.
Christa Cucchi and Ashley Rouleau played well in the midfield.
