John Stark field hockey gets out early, holds off Souhegan (video)

WEARE - The John Stark Regional High School field hockey team has been trying to find the right mix for its forward line.

Based off Tuesday's game against Souhegan, the Generals appear to have found it.

Jillian Fredette scored three goals from her new position on the left side, two of which came in the first quarter, to help John Stark take an early lead and hold off the Sabers for a 4-1 win in a rematch of last year's Division II title game.

Caylin Worthen added a goal and an assist from the center forward position while Hailey Brisson, Lauryn Guevin and Olivia Worthen each had an assist. Edie Fisher (three saves) and Addy Pelletier (two) split time in goal for the Generals (11-0, No. 4 in the NHHSSports Coaches Poll).

"I thought we played excellent," John Stark coach Dennis Pelletier said. "With it being an abnormally hot day, and we’re used to colder weather, I knew we were going to have to use substitutions, especially at the midfield.

"We started subbing our midfield part way through the first quarter. I do think, though our subs might not be as elite as our starters, they’re good and we have a lot of depth."

And the recent change upfront, switching spots for Fredette and Caylin Worthen, has helped give the Generals a new look, and Pelletier feels, more space to create on offense.

"Jillian was on the schneid for a couple of games and she was upset because she hadn’t scored," the coach said. "She’s such a competitor. Since we moved her to the left, she’s scored an insane amount of goals.

"Caylin’s speed has opened things up. The emergence of Olivia Worthen, who last season was our person off the bench, she has played with so much confidence and has a great relationship with her sister (Caylin) that it’s worked perfectly well."

Ari Goulet had the lone goal for Souhegan (6-2-2), which came early in the fourth quarter, and was the first allowed by John Stark in four games and just the fourth all season. Amelia Warecki finished with 11 saves for the Sabers.

"Ari was able to put one in and I was hoping that would give us a little bit of life," Souhegan coach Kelli Braley said. "Once that happens, the flood gates open and we get into a rhythm, but it didn’t happen for us. They had answers for everything."

Fredette opened the scoring with 6:30 to go in the first quarter and then made it 2-0 less than two minutes later. Caylin Worthen made it 3-0 with 4:48 to go until halftime.

"We came out a little bit slow and on our heels," Braley said. "As much as I don’t want there to be the connection to last year, the girls know. They saw what we were able to put together for a season last year and they know Stark is the one that ended it. I think there’s that emotion and we were in our heads quite a bit."

Neither team had many opportunities on penalty corners, as the Generals got four of their five in the second half and the Sabers had three total, scoring off their only corner after halftime.

Fredette put John Stark up 4-0 with 2:48 to go in the third quarter, but Goulet got that one back with just under 11 minutes to play. The Sabers were able to get the ball into the Generals' end a little more consistently in the fourth, but couldn't finish any opportunities after that.

"We did some things where, we’d have a huge hit up the field, and everybody cheers, but a pass is only good if it’s received," Braley said. "We’re chasing down our own ball to have it turned around on us. It put us in a hole early on and it was too big to pull out of."