John Stark holds off Kennett to repeat as D2 field hockey champs (video)

BEDFORD - It was a play that didn't look like much, but turned into a championship winner.

Early in Sunday's Division II high school field hockey championship, John Stark's Jillian Fredette took the ball from Kennett's Grier Carrier and moved into the circle.

Fredette sent the ball toward the front of the goal, where it bounced over a couple of sticks, then off the stick of Allie Hussey, and stayed just ahead of goalie Madison Walcott as it crossed the goal line.

And for the next 55 minutes, the top-seeded Generals made that one goal stand up, as they kept No. 2 Kennett off the scoreboard to hold on to a 1-0 win at Bedford High School and claim their second straight D2 championship.

"I worked on my backshot a lot this season and I saw Lauryn (Guevin) and hit it that way," Fredette said. "It felt good. I was trying to get it in the circle more. If it went in, that was really good, but I was also aiming for a teammate. I would rather it just go in."

It did, with just 4:01 gone off the clock, the second year in a row John Stark (16-1) has scored in the opening moments of the championship game and held on for a 1-0 victory.

"Jillian hit a great ball in and the defender had a touch on it," Guevin said. "It was an unlucky bounce and it went right in. It was beautiful."

The Generals had another rush early in the second quarter, but Walcott was able to make back-to-back saves on shots by Ava Friberg and Guevin to keep it a one-goal game.

John Stark's defense, led by Adie Bolduc, Ryann Telgen, Emily Fredette and Kaitlin Denis along with goalies Edie Fischer and Addy Pelletier, limited Kennett (14-3) to just a handful of opportunities offensively.

"I think (Bolduc) showed why, in my opinion, she’s the best defensive player in the state," John Stark coach Dennis Pelletier said. "She’s kind of like a free safety in football or the centerfielder in baseball. She finds a way of picking up everything or getting to everything. She is an amazing player and an amazing.

"Kaitlin Dennis and Emily Fredette and Ryann Telgen all play incredible support to her. They’re all different players from her."

The Eagles finished with three penalty corners, but committed a foul on all three before getting a shot attempt off.

Kennett's best scoring chance came late in the third, when Sophia Hanson and Georgia Coleman worked to get the ball into the circle. Coleman was able to get a shot on goal, but Addy Pelletier came up with the save and then came out to knock the rebound away, sliding into Coleman on the play.

"I think our defenders did a great job holding them off," Guevin said. "We all just played our game out there, holding them off the whole game."

During the regular season, Kennett was the only team to score more than a goal against John Stark's defense and the only team to hand them a loss.

"My defense, I have so much faith in them and I know they’ll be back there," Jillian Fredette said. "We are well-connected. I know every girl on the field is going to give a 110 percent."

Dennis Pelletier believes that a big reason why the Generals have been able to win back-to-back titles, going a combined 32-1-1 over that time.

"At the end of the day, and the way they handle things, every time they get on the field, they believe they’re going to win," the coach said. "There is no doubt about it. To have that confidence in teenage girls, that’s not common.

"These girls believe every time we step on the field, they’re going to win the game. It’s an unbelievable trait to have and it’s because of relying on each other."