Coming off an impressive 5-1 win against number 27-ranked Newton North, Belmont field hockey continued its strong playoff start with a dominant 4-0 win against number 22-ranked Wachusett Regional High School Mountaineers.
Belmont opened with its familiar starting lineup, with Zoe Bruce in goal, and captain Elsie Lakin-Schultz, Caroline French and Kate Townsend leading the charge defensively. In front, captains Niamh Lesnik and Mackenzie Clarke, alongside Nina Sheth-Voss and Mia Smith. Finally, the front three Kendall Regan, Amelia Long, and Giuliana Mastrangelo started.
Before the match, Belmont coach Jessica Smith stressed smooth ball movement, sharp passes, and team play to avoid an upset.
The game went Belmont’s way from the start, with the Marauders scoring twice in the first three minutes. The first came on a penalty corner finish from Regan and a finish from close range for Clarke.
Defensively, Belmont dominated, keeping Wachusett out of the attacking half for the first nine minutes of the game. Even when Wachusett did break through, the Mountaineer attacks were quickly defused, including a crucial one-on-one defensive stop from Lesnik.
Late in the second quarter, Belmont’s pressure proved too much for the Mountaineers, as a powerful strike from Lakin-Schultz was deflected by Avery Reinold into the bottom corner, making it a comfortable 3-0 lead for the Marauders going into the half.
The second half followed suit, with Belmont dominating play. Late in the third quarter, Mia Smith capitalized on a chance as she tapped the ball in from close range following a chaotic sequence, making it 4-0.
Captains Clarke and Lesnik attributed the win to a new surge of energy this postseason, after a rough final two weeks of the regular season.
According to Lesnik, the newfound energy flows from the realization that “any game could be the seniors’ last,”
Clarke echoed that this could have been their last game on Harris Field, and said that the team was grateful they could end their play at home in a way that made them feel proud.
The Marauders advance to the Elite 8, with Wellesley next, at an unspecified date and time.
