Big second half leads Windham field hockey past Exeter (video)

EXETER - Ella Reeners doesn't get involved in the offense that often for the Windham High School field hockey team.

When the senior does, it's usually to put the ball in play on penalty corners, and then keep her position near the goal, in case the play comes back that way.

That's what happened Wednesday on the Jaguars first corner of the second half against Exeter.

Reeners sent the ball to Ava Sanchez at the top of the circle, but when her lane to the goal disappeared, Sanchez sent it to her left, to Ava Pelletier, who sent the ball down toward the goal. Reeners was there, collected the pass and sent it into the goal.

It was the only score Windham would need, as the Jaguars added another goal just 1:17 later and rolled to a 5-0 win over the Blue Hawks in a matchup of teams that have met in the Division I playoffs each of the last two seasons.

"I looked at them and said I’m incredibly proud of the way you are playing," Windham coach Sophia Poulin said. "You’ve taken ever note we’ve given you and you’ve instituted it, and you’ve adapted to what they’re giving you, and you’ve changed the way you are playing. As a coach, this is the game I’ve been proudest of them."

Sophie Manchester had two goals in the fourth quarter and an assist while Sedona Lee had a goal and an assist. Ally Sinopoli also scored and goalie Julianna Vougias made seven saves for the shutout.

But for most of the first half, that didn't seem likely, as Vougias, Reeners and the rest of Windham's defense were under consistent pressure. Exeter had four penalty corners in the second quarter, and a handful of other chances, but the Jaguars (4-0, No. 3 in the NHHSSports Coaches Poll) were able to keep the Blue Hawks (3-1, No. 1) from scoring.

"Coming out confident, that’s something that we worked on, and coming out from the first buzzer, ready to be strong, and they had us," Poulin said. "(Exeter) dominated that first half."

Windham may have gained momentum at the end of the half, getting a penalty corner in the final minute. The Jaguars didn't score, but forced Exeter goalie MarLie Macek to make a save.

"It was really big for us to get out of our circle," Reeners said. "We expected them to push back hard. They’re a great team. We expected that and locked down on defense, making sure we were on a player, making sure we needed to be on that field to make sure we could get the ball out."

Reeners goal came with 10:30 remaining in the third quarter and was about discipline as much as it was skill.

"After I insert the ball, I make sure I’m in the right spot, change the angle of my stick, just to make sure I have the right position, so I can be there when the ball gets to me," Reeners said. The ball got to the outside of the circle and then it came back down to me. I just tried to get it in the net and it ended on making its way in."

Lee scored with 9:17 to go in the quarter to make it 2-0 and Exeter came right back with another push into the Jaguars' circle. Vougias came up with a couple of saves and Windham was able to get it going the other way, with Sinopoli deflecting in a shot by Lee to make it 3-0 with 6:05 left in the third.

"(Exeter) plays great defense, and the thing we talked about at halftime, they’re getting us and just stepping to that ball sooner," Poulin said. "We dissected what we were seeing as coaches, and the players that I have are so incredibly talented and have such great game IQ, we asked what are you seeing, and formulated a game plan from there."

Manchester made it 4-0 just 57 seconds into the fourth and then finished off the scoring with her second goal with 9:57 to play.

Exeter had five more corners over the final six minutes, but couldn't get one past Windham's defense.