Bedford field hockey starts fast, Pinkerton comes back, finish in a tie (video)

DERRY - In the end, Wednesday's game between the Bedford High School and Pinkerton Academy field hockey teams was about what Bulldogs coach Kate Gaudreau expected.

How the teams got there, well that was a different story.

Bedford stormed out of the gate to a two-goal lead in the first quarter and Pinkerton spent the rest of regulation doing its best to chip away at that lead, finally tying the game in the final minute to force overtime.

With darkness creeping in, the teams played a frantic extra 10 minutes to end up in a 2-2 tie in a Division I contest.

"I knew it was going to be competitive," Gaudreau said. "Field hockey this year, any game is anyone’s game. It’s exciting to be a part of. Ties are frustrating, but I think we learned a lot. I’m happy with the girls because they worked really hard."

The Bulldogs (9-2-1, No. 4 in the NHHSSports Coaches Poll) got a goal and an assist from Maddie Kiely while Mary Lenti also scored and Tegan O'Donnell had an assist, all in the first quarter. Addison Wolfinger finished with 10 saves, including one on a breakaway in the fourth quarter that kept Bedford in front.

After a rough start, Pinkerton (7-3-1, No. 6) regrouped and got a goal from Meaghan Shea before the end of the first half to cut into the lead, giving the Astros a boost before halftime.

"It’s a huge difference maker," Pinkerton coach Jen Resmini said. "Meaghan Shea scored on a corner that we just put in a couple of days ago. It was nice to see her score because she works ridiculously hard all over the middle of that field. For her to execute like that was huge, she comes in clutch. That was big because we can say you’re in it now. They really stepped up in the second half."

Pinkerton kept the pressure on Bedford to start the third quarter, getting a couple of penalty corners and forcing Wolfinger to make a couple of saves. Despite that, it looked like the Bulldogs might have gone back up two goals moments later, but a goal was waved off on a Bedford foul that happened right before.

The Bulldogs came out fast in the fourth quarter, creating a number of chances, but Astros goalie Molly Kuncik (12 saves) held her ground to keep it a one-goal game.

In the final minute, Pinkerton was awarded a corner, and Jaelyn Crossman sent a rocket into the lower left corner of the goal with 45 seconds remaining to tie it at 2.

"We put it in her hands," Resmini said. "It had been open and ready, it was there earlier. Let’s put it in her hands. It was a beautiful shot, executed nice and strong, which is what we’ve been working on."

Gaudreau was equally impressed with the goal, and with her defense's effort on the corner.

"(Crossman) has a cannon for a shot," the coach said. "I was proud of (Wolfinger) because she read it right. She dove the right way, she just wasn’t far enough. Everyone else did what they needed to do what they had to in that situation, so it wasn’t a break down. They executed a beautiful corner."

Pinkerton had another corner with about four minutes remaining in overtime, but couldn't capitalize on it. Both teams had chances to take the win in the extra session, but were unable to do so.

"We played some really good field hockey against a ridiculously good Bedford team," Resmini said. "I’m very proud of the overtime. That was our first overtime. I’m proud of the opportunities that we had. We had a couple of close would-be goals. That was nice to see from them."