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# Merrimack field hockey keeps playoffs hopes alive with win over Goffstown (video)
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/merrimack-field-hockey-keeps-playoffs-hopes-alive-with-win-over-goffstown-video/
- Published: 2024-10-10T15:40:45.000Z
- Updated: 2024-10-10T15:40:45.000Z
- Description: GOFFSTOWN - The seniors on the Merrimack High School field hockey team knew what was potentially on the line Wednesday night against Goffstown. A win could mean the Tomahawks reach the Division I playoffs for the first time in their high school careers. A loss to the Grizzlies and that dream became
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division I, field hockey, Goffstown, Merrimack, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

GOFFSTOWN - The seniors on the Merrimack High School field hockey team knew what was potentially on the line Wednesday night against Goffstown.

A win could mean the Tomahawks reach the Division I playoffs for the first time in their high school careers. A loss to the Grizzlies and that dream became a little less likely.

Allie Wyand tipped in a shot into the circle late in the first half to give Merrimack the lead and the Tomahawks did just enough in the second half to keep Goffstown from tying the game, as they held on for a 2-1 win in a D1 contest.

Wyand also had an assist on a goal by Madi Weldon in the first quarter and Merrimack goalie Annabelle Cassetty finished with four saves to give the Tomahawks (6-8) a shot at the postseason.

"We knew this game was keeping us alive to maybe get that 12th spot," Merrimack coach Courtney LeFrancois said. "The girls, the ones who have been here for four years, we haven’t had a great record, and they really wanted it (Wednesday). I thought you could tell.

"We did a really good job of connecting and passing. We’ve been working on getting rid of it and passing on the go. We have lots of girls with really good stick skills 1-v-1, but we don’t want to get trapped in those situations. We’re trying to pass around people. They did a really good job of that."

Weldon scored with 8:53 remaining in a fast-paced first quarter that saw the teams racing up and down the field, looking for opportunities in the circle. Goffstown (4-10) answered the goal just 2:20 later on a shot by Amelia Cole that traveled across the circle and into the far corner, beyond the reach of a diving Cassetty.

The pace continued for the remainder of the quarter, but Merrimack was able to control possession more in the second, and it paid off when Wyand was able to get the ball past Goffstown goalie Molly Braica (10 saves) with 3:59 left in the first half.

The Tomahawks had the lone penalty corner of the first half, moments after the go-ahead goal, but the Grizzlies responded in the third quarter and started creating more opportunities for themselves, including two corners.

"They played really hard and I thought they played with no quit," Goffstown coach Jess Brown said. "I’m really proud of them. (Wednesday) had a very frantic, high-stake energy, as it would when we’re both trying to see if we can secure one of those spots. That’s going to happen in these games.

"We had thought in the first half, maybe it was back-and-forth, but it was a little more beneath our 50\. Second half, we weren’t quite able to get the opportunities inside the circle, but we were able to get a lot of possession above the 50."

But Merrimack was able to flip the field back in its favor for most of the fourth quarter, and kept Goffstown in its own end for the final five minutes of the game to secure the win.

While the Tomahawks were able to keep their hopes at the postseason alive, the Grizzlies, who moved up to D1 before this season, saw their chances dashed with the loss.

"This has clearly been a transition, but this group, I just want to recognize how resilient they’ve been though all this," Brown said. "They keep showing up, they keep playing hard. I think our last few games we’re seeing things start to really click and come together. A lot of that are the 11 (seniors) that we celebrated.

"I think the seniors are such a good group, strong group, they haven’t gone quietly into the night. They want to get stronger. It’s tough because I think this nudges us onto the other side of the playoffs. You can’t be upset with a 2-1 loss when you played as hard as they did."