Mascoma Valley field hockey returns to D3 final with win over Hopkinton

EXETER - Nicole Williams thought the start of the second half seemed like a good time to catch someone by surprise.

The Mascoma Valley Regional High School senior had the ball to the left of the Hopkinton goal, but didn't have a great angle, so she decided to take a chance.

Williams hit a reverse shot that popped off a defenders stick and bounced in and out of the goal before the Hawks had time to react, giving the Royals a two-goal lead they wouldn't relinquish.

No. 5 Mascoma thwarted any chance No. 1 Hopkinton had in the second half to take a 2-0 win in the Division III field hockey semifinals Wednesday at Bill Ball Stadium in Exeter. The win sends the Royals to the title game for the third year in a row, where they will face No. 3 Bishop Brady on Sunday at 11 a.m. at Bedford.

Natalie Poitras also had a goal for Mascoma (14-3), which won its 12th in a row, and Mackenzie Labrie added an assist while Michaela Dowd made a difference in the midfield for the Royals after missing their 2-1 regular-season loss to Hopkinton back on Sept. 10.

"We played Hopkinton early in the season and one of my best midfielders was out with a sprained ankle," Mascoma Jennifer Hammond said. "That played a huge factor in that first game because we had to move some people around. We knew they were a tough team. As a coach, I couldn’t have asked for much more because they executed everything we needed them to."

That included Williams' goal, which came just 1:20 into the second half and seemed to catch the Hawks (14-2) by surprise.

"I remember I got it and we call it ‘big girl,'" Williams said. "It’s a reverse sweep and it hit off someone’s stick and went right in. I had confidence in that. I’ve worked on it a lot this season especially, because I realized I’m good at it. I did it a lot more in practice and got better at it."

Hammond thought Hopkinton goalie Izzy Holmes never had a chance on the shot.

"Once they got that second goal, it made me feel a lot better," Hammond said. "That was huge. We have been practicing that. Nikki has a great reverse chop shot. We had been practicing that and that’s exactly how she scored it. You get them off balance and then you turn your stick over and chop it. I don’t think the goalie ever saw it."

The Hawks opened the game with back-to-back penalty corners, but couldn't capitalize on either one. Hopkinton was able to keep the ball in Mascoma's end, but Emilie Conrad came up with a save.

Mascoma got its first corner midway through the half, getting the ball around the circle before Poitras flipped the ball up into the netting, just above the backboard to make it 1-0 with 15:30 to go before halftime.

After Williams made it 2-0, the Royals continued to push for more, but were also quick to get back on defense and move the ball out of their end. Hammond took a timeout with 18:28 left to help settle the team down and conserve energy.

"Take a deep breath, get some water, regain your composure," the coach said. "Go back out there and do what you can do. They were getting tired near the end, but they pulled through."

Now, after winning the program's first title since 1983 last season, Mascoma has a chance to make it back-to-back titles.

"That’d be life-changing," Williams said. "I’d be very proud of my team and all that we’ve done. I knew we could do it though, I knew what we had what it took."