Dover field hockey bounces back with big win over Bishop Guertin (video)

NASHUA - Coming off a frustrating overtime loss its last time out, the Dover High School field hockey team was in need of a reaffirming performance.

The Green Wave got that Tuesday, controlling play for long stretches and overcoming some adversity in the first half, before finally breaking through in the second half.

Leyden Churchill and Erin Lynch each had a goal in the third quarter and goalie Scarlett Gray made some key saves late to help Dover get a 2-0 win over Bishop Guertin in a Division I game at Rivier University in Nashua.

"Coming off a big loss on Friday, really tough loss in overtime (to Concord), we were coming in hungry," Dover coach Sarah Michaud said. "We know that BG is fast and aggressive, and they have a lot of athletes on this team. We were in a mental space where we knew we had to bring our ‘A’ game.

"I was so proud of our second effort and our hustle and our tenacious play. We were back to our style that we play and battling through."

That including overcoming two situations in the second quarter that could have put the Green Wave (10-2-1, No. 6 in the NHHSSports Coaches Poll) up two goals at halftime.

Midway through the quarter, Dover was awarded a penalty stroke, but Lynch's attempt was stopped by Bishop Guertin goalie Ayla Saeturn (five saves), keeping it a scoreless game.

Then, with under a minute to play, Dover set up for a penalty corner. A shot by Lynch was deflected by Gabby Anderson and then deflected again by Hannah Deroy and into the goal with 7.9 seconds left in the half, but officials ruled that the ball went in off Deroy's body and not her stick.

Dover came out strong to start the third quarter, though, and got another corner in the opening minutes. This time, Churchill put the ball through the Cardinals defense and into the goal to make it 1-0 just 1:45 into the half.

Bishop Guertin (10-2-1, No. 4) stormed right back, putting sustained pressure on Dover's defense, but it wasn't until late in the quarter that the Cardinals were able to get a corner. The Green Wave held, with Gray (seven saves) making a couple of stops to keep Dover in front.

"BG had some opportunities as well and our defense played great," Michaud said. "Scarlett had a great game and a lot of good saves. Her head space has been really great this year. This is her first year, as a sophomore, as a starting goalie. We told her, we are going to have to battle in every game, and we need you. Having a good goalie is such an asset and she has great energy."

Dover got another corner in the final minute of the third and was awarded another stroke. This time, Lynch was able to beat Saeturn to give the Green Wave a 2-0 lead with 22.6 seconds left in the frame.

The Cardinals had a great chance to cut the lead in half with about nine minutes remaining, as Sarah Brunelle broke in alone on Gray. But the goalie came out to make the save, and by the time Bishop Guertin's Addison Daddona retrieved the rebound, Dover's defense had settled back into the circle.

Bishop Guertin threatened a few more times, but the Green Wave were able to keep the Cardinals from getting on the board.

"They’re a good program and they’re coached really well," Bishop Guertin coach Dakota Bilodeau said. "Not the outcome you want, but this is the kind of game you want toward the end of the season. It totally exposes you and how do we get better. We either win or we learn."