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# Fast start helped put Bedford field hockey in position to win against Windham (video)
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/fast-start-helped-put-bedford-field-hockey-in-position-to-win-against-windham-video/
- Published: 2024-09-13T23:15:13.000Z
- Updated: 2024-09-13T23:15:13.000Z
- Description: BEDFORD - Kate Gaudreau tried to express to her Bedford High School field hockey team before Wednesday night's game against Windham that the Bulldogs would to be ready to play from the first whistle. That message was received loud and clear. Bedford jumped out from the start, creating plenty of oppo
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division I, Bedford, field hockey, slider, Windham, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

BEDFORD - Kate Gaudreau tried to express to her Bedford High School field hockey team before Wednesday night's game against Windham that the Bulldogs would to be ready to play from the first whistle.

That message was received loud and clear.

Bedford jumped out from the start, creating plenty of opportunities before cashing in on two of them to take a two-goal lead less than nine minutes into the game.

And when Windham battled back early in the second quarter, the Bulldogs (5-0, No. 1 in the NHHSSports Coaches Poll) continued to add to the lead, doing all the scoring they needed in the first half of a 4-1 win over the Jaguars (1-4).

"Windham is very well-coached," Gaudreau said. "Their girls are always ready for competition. I tried to make sure we prepared and did a good job focusing on our passing and possession, because it’s really something we have to capitalize on if we want to be successful."

Teagan O'Donnell scored twice for Bedford while Mary Lenti had a goal and an assist and Ella Putney also scored. Eloise Montagano, Avery Girasole and Amelia MacDonald also had assists, as all four goals had helpers for the Bulldogs.

Bedford finished with eight penalty corners, scoring on three of them, while keeping play in Windham's end for almost all of the first quarter.

"I thought we had a great first quarter," Gaudreau said. "The other thing we’re working on is just running. We try to run the ball. The girls had a good attitude."

Sophie Manchester had the lone goal for Windham, as she scored off an assist from Abigail Petrini on a penalty corner just 1:57 into the second quarter. That made it 2-1 and the Jaguars appeared to gain some momentum from the goal, but Bedford answered less than two minutes later.

"I think we have played better skilled games, but I don’t think we’ve worked harder in games," Windham coach Sophia Poulin said. "All we’re asking for is hard work and I think they showed up."

After O'Donnell's second goal made it 3-1 with 10:42 remaining in the first half, the Jaguars were able to get a couple of scoring chances, including two more corners. But on each one, the Bulldogs were able to escape unscathed.

"We’re struggling to find the back of the net," Poulin said. "We lost the last two years some really stellar forwards. I had a freshman, Megan Hallisey, in there and she was outstanding. I think she was a big contributor. That was really huge and a big boost for her. Defense is holding it down for us."

Windham kept Bedford off the board in the second half, thanks in part to goalie Dana McAleer (eight saves), but the Bulldogs did enough to keep the Jaguars from cutting into the lead.

"You can never feel comfortable in field hockey," Gaudreau said. "I’m always worried because I know how hard they’ve worked for me and I want them to be as successful as they can be. We had that little bit of a lapse (in the second quarter). We made some adjustments and I thought we did a pretty good job doing what we needed to do in the third and fourth."