> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Gilford outlasts Bishop Brady to win D3 field hockey title for 3rd year in a row (video)
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/gilford-outlasts-bishop-brady-to-win-d3-field-hockey-title-for-3rd-year-in-a-row-video/
- Published: 2024-11-04T02:20:17.000Z
- Updated: 2024-11-04T02:20:17.000Z
- Description: BEDFORD - For the third straight playoff game, the Gilford High School field hockey team was preparing to play an opponent for the third time this season. And if the Golden Eagles were to find a way to go 3 for 3 against Bishop Brady this season, it would give them their third Division III champion
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division III-IV, Bishop Brady, championship, Division III, field hockey, Gilford, playoffs, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

BEDFORD - For the third straight playoff game, the Gilford High School field hockey team was preparing to play an opponent for the third time this season.

And if the Golden Eagles were to find a way to go 3 for 3 against Bishop Brady this season, it would give them their third Division III championship in a row.

But the Gilford players and coaches knew going into Saturday's final that this would be the toughest game of them all. So the top-seeded Golden Eagles took care of business early and then held on tight in the second half to beat the No. 6 Giants 2-0 at Bedford High School.

"Knowing that it was probably going to be the hardest game yet and they weren’t going to come out easy on us," Gilford coach Joy Southworth said. "They were going to come out hungry and it was going to be a dogfight. The girls were going to have to fight for this if they were going to have to come out on top. They had to finish, they had to go to the last second of the game, which these girls have done."

Liv Keenan scored the game's first goal on a penalty corner with 6:26 to play in the first quarter, when Grace Southworth kept the ball from leaving the circle by centering it. Keenan found it and shot it into the right corner for the only goal Gilford (17-0) would need.

And the Golden Eagles needed it.

After dominating the first half, keeping the ball on the Giants' end and getting seven penalty corners to none for Bishop Brady (12-5-1), Gilford saw the tables flipped after halftime.

The Giants controlled most of the action in the second half, including 12 corners to none for the Golden Eagles. It looked like Bishop Brady tied the game early in the third quarter, but officials ruled that Mady Savary's shot came from outside the circle.

But that setback didn't slow the Giants down, as they continued to put pressure on Gilford's defense. Even with that pressure, though, the Golden Eagles held on to the shutout.

"They didn’t give up," Joy Southworth said. "The important thing at that point they don’t let it get to their head and stay focused. Not let them distract them from their game. These girls are relentless."

That effort showed up early in the fourth quarter, when Gilford was able to break out of its end and set up a scoring chance on the offensive end. Grace Kelly finished off the play with a goal and a 2-0 lead with 9:46 remaining.

"It helps being up by two," Keenan said. "I think being up by one, it’s a little stressful. Once you get the second one, it’s sort of a relief. You still have to work hard."

Fellow senior captain Lilly Winward felt he same way.

"It felt pretty good, but we knew we couldn’t let up," she said. "We knew we couldn’t get comfortable. We weren’t satisfied with one goal. We got another one. We didn’t stay complacent."

Bishop Brady responded to the goal by getting more corners, but Gilford goalie Madi Breton came up with a pair of saves. Although the Giants were still able to get opportunities, being down two goals made a come back more daunting.

"If they left their foot off the gas for one quarter, it would change in an instant," Joy Southworth said. "They knew it wasn’t going to be an easy game at all. I hope they hold on to this for the rest of their lives."