Lynch's late goal lifts Dover field hockey past Londonderry (video)

LONDONDERRY - Erin Lynch was ready to take a shot, but there was one thing she had to do first.

The Dover High School senior took a moment and checked her feet.

Seeing that she was inside the circle, Lynch pushed a shot toward the far corner of the cage. The ball found its way through traffic and in for the only goal in Dover's 1-0 win over Londonderry on Monday in Division I field hockey action.

The goal came with 3:25 remaining, just moments after Lynch had taken a shot from close to the same spot and found the same far corner. The officials ruled she was outside of the circle on that one, keeping it a scoreless game.

"My foot was outside the circle," Lynch said of the goal that wasn't. "I thought I was in. I never know. The excitement gets to you."

On her second chance, which came off a penalty corner, she took an extra step.

"I was like all right, I’m taking a big step in this time, making sure we get this in," she said. "I’ve got to make it count because time was getting low and we knew we didn’t want to go into overtime. You know when it’s good coming off your stick. You feel the power underneath the ball."

Leydon Churchill got an assist on the goal after putting the ball in play to Lynch. It was one of 17 penalty corners on the day for the Green Wave (5-1, No. 3 in the NHHSSports Coaches Poll), five of which came in the final quarter.

"Monday games are always challenging," Dover coach Sarah Michaud said. "But I do feel like we had some great offensive opportunities, we just didn’t capitalize. We know when we play Londonderry, no matter what year it is, (Londonderry coach) Nichole (Treadway) is a great coach, so we know that it’s going to be a tough game. They always work really hard."

That effort Monday from the Lancers (3-3) was led by sophomore goalie Molly Tharington, who finished with 11 saves, most of which came on Dover's corners.

"Molly has stepped up the last few games," Treadway said. "She has definitely been putting in the work to own the net and be more vocal back there and support her defense. I think they’re looking to her as more of a leader now, which has helped her confidence a lot. I’m super proud of her and she had some great saves (Monday)."

Londonderry had chances of its own, at times countering Dover's long stretches of possession with breakaways that came up just short. Green Wave goalie Scarlett Grey came up with six saves.

"I do think the defense played well (Monday) and our goalie played very well," Michaud said. "I think we created offensive opportunities, we just didn’t capitalize, especially on the rebounds. (Tharington) was great, she was saving that initial shot, we just weren’t getting the rebounds."

Both teams will have a tough turnaround, as they each return to action on Wednesday. Dover returns home to host Winnacunnet (5-1, No. 10) while Londonderry travels to take on Exeter (6-1, No. 4), with both games starting at 4 p.m.