Field Hockey Notebook: Souhegan making a quiet return to the top
While no one was looking, the Souhegan High School field hockey has leaped ahead. The likes of Timberlane, Windham, Winnacunnet, Bishop Guertin and Pelham have been the talk of the state this season, even as the Sabers have defeated everyone in their path. But that’s just the way head coach Kelli Br
While no one was looking, the Souhegan High School field hockey has leaped ahead.
The likes of Timberlane, Windham, Winnacunnet, Bishop Guertin and Pelham have been the talk of the state this season, even as the Sabers have defeated everyone in their path.
But that’s just the way head coach Kelli Braley likes it.
“I know. I love it,” she said about her team being overlooked. “I’m not surprised at all, as weird as it sounds. I know what they’re capable of. It’s nice to see it all click. They’re playing their best field hockey. I’ve been watching some of these kids since middle school, seeing them learn and grow. I’m not surprised because I know what they’re made of.”
The Sabers have defeated every team they’ve played all season, topping ranked teams like Windham and Goffstown, and annihilating a good Milford team 11-0. They’ve allowed just four goals all season and scored 32.
That type of dominance may be going overlooked, but it’s getting the results for the Sabers.
“There’s consistency that we’ve had over the years,” said Braley. "There are four captains that were here on varsity as freshmen with me, and they’ve been together that whole time. It’s a strong group of seniors that have played together enough now to get it done.”
That group includes seniors such as McKenzie Robinson, who has used her speed to send the ball downfield on transition. Alongside her, Madison Robicheau is playing “on a whole other level and has been consistent and wonderful,” according to Braley.
Erin McCool has been the quarterback of the team, playing fullback after spending most of her junior year at halfback. Abby Cranney and Taylor Dudek have been excellent on the offense, putting up point totals for the Sabers that no one has been able to stop.
It doesn’t end with the seniors, either. Freshman Catie Summers has also been scoring in bunches.
“There’s versatility and depth,” said Braley. “They trust each other. There’s not just one person who has to carry it because they trust each other a lot. Someone else steps up if they need it.”
The biggest test of the season for the Sabers might be this week in a rematch with Windham, after toppling the Jaguars on the road earlier this season, 1-0. But the Jaguars have continued to play well, and the Sabers relish another test against one of the top teams in the division.
“The strong schedule is super important,” said Braley. “There’s also a ton of really good teams we don’t play in the regular season. We don’t play against Kennett or Kingswood or Derryfield. There’s seven good teams we don’t see. I would love the hardest schedule during the regular season.”
For a team that has dominated all season, the Sabers haven’t caught the eye of the state quite as much than might have been expected. While Braley and her team don’t mind the lack of attention, the Sabers know they can keep getting better and make a run.
“My biggest hope is they keep elevating,” said Braley. “In practice they never get complacent. Good is never good enough. It’s cliche but we’re looking for the next standard, to raise the next bar.”
Players of the Week
- Kate Blaisdell, Windham: The freshman scored five goals in an 11-0 win over Oyster River and contributed two more in an early week win at Hollis Brookline to help lead the defending D2 champion in what was a strong showing all week.
- Nicole Berube, Gildford: With a goal and five assists, Berube helped lead her Golden Eagles past Franklin 8-0 as Gilford improved to 6-1.
- Lindsey Stagg, Derryfield: The sophomore is on a torrid pace to open the season with six goals, and two of them came in a 3-1 win over Plymouth last week. She also scored another four in an 8-0 win against St. Thomas.
Games to Watch
- Merrimack (5-2) at Bishop Guertin (6-0), Monday, 3:30 p.m.: The Cardinals haven’t lost yet and have dominated in nearly every contest. Merrimack has had a drastically improved campaign from last season and is starting to look like a real contender. It’s a good test for the Tomahawks, and one of the tougher matchups of the year for Guertin.
- Windham (5-1) at Souhegan (6-0), Wednesday, 4 p.m.: This is one of the heavyweight battles of the season. The Sabers haven’t lost yet, and the Jaguars are looking like a contender to win it again. Earlier this year the Sabers were able to narrowly pull out a 1-0 win, but since then, Windham has been on a tear and the offense has exploded.
- Manchester Central (2-1-1) at Bedford (2-3), Friday, 6:30 p.m.: Bedford has fallen off the tracks a bit, but played well in a tough 4-3 loss to Salem. Manchester Central isn’t as strong as it was last season, but is still looking to make a postseason push. This might be the game to get one of them back on track.
Top 15 (record, last week)
- Pinkerton (5-0, 1st)
- Derryfield (5-0, 3rd)
- Winnacunnet (5-1, 4th)
- Timberlane (4-1, 2nd)
- Souhegan (6-0, 6th)
- Bishop Guertin (6-0, 5th)
- Windham (5-1, 7th)
- Gilford (6-1, 9th)
- Manchester Central (2-1-1, 8th)
- Kennett (4-2, 11th)
- Pelham (6-0, 14th)
- Londonderry (2-3, 15th)
- Merrimack (5-2, NR)
- Goffstown (3-2, NR)
- Salem (3-2, NR)
