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# Merrimack field hockey stays resilient to beat Timberlane in D1 playoffs (video)
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/merrimack-field-hockey-stays-resilient-to-beat-timberlane-in-d1-playoffs-video/
- Published: 2025-10-22T12:00:45.000Z
- Updated: 2025-10-22T12:00:45.000Z
- Description: PLAISTOW - Courtney LeFrancois wanted to see the Merrimack High School field hockey team be more resilient this season. No better time for the Tomahawks to do what the coach asked than in the playoffs. Allie Wyand fought through a handful of Timberlane defenders to score the game's only goal in the
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division I, field hockey, Merrimack, playoffs, slider, Timberlane, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

PLAISTOW - Courtney LeFrancois wanted to see the Merrimack High School field hockey team be more resilient this season.

No better time for the Tomahawks to do what the coach asked than in the playoffs.

Allie Wyand fought through a handful of Timberlane defenders to score the game's only goal in the second quarter and the No. 10 Tomahawks withstood a barrage of penalty corners by the No. 7 Owls for a stretch in the second half to get a 1-0 win Tuesday in the Division I preliminary round.

It's the first playoff win for Merrimack (8-8-1) since 2019, which was also the last time the program reached the postseason.

"It feels really good to get out of here with a win," LeFrancois said. "It’s the first time Merrimack has won a playoff game in six years. They played really, really tough. We were evenly matched, we knew it would be tough.

"I’m really glad Allie was able to finish that goal. It wasn’t a clean goal. She hustled in and had like three attempts at it."

The goal came moments after the Tomahawks had a run of corners of their own in the second, but Owls goalie Austin Peters (three saves) and the Timberlane defense was able to get the ball out of the circle.

After the final one, Wyand carried the ball back toward the circle, fought through a couple of checks, and got just enough on a shot that it bounced across the line and hit the backboard with 5:15 left in the first half.

"We’ve been working really hard to be resilient," LeFrancois said. "That has been one of the things we’ve been working on the most with this team. They’re not used to winning, so whenever we were down (this season), they wouldn’t shut down, but they felt they were going to lose again."

Merrimack had another pair of corners to open the second half, but Timberlane (9-7-1) took control of possession for the rest of the third quarter, getting five corners. The Owls had three more to start the fourth, but were unable to capitalize.

"They were wide open," Timberlane coach Jessi Paul said. "We read the fly very well, we just couldn’t finish. We couldn’t get the shot off. Corners have been our biggest struggle this year. We’ve had a lot of offensive corners and it’s been a constant battle of trying to put the ball in the back of the net."

Play remained in the midfield for long stretches in the fourth quarter, until Merrimack took a timeout with 2:20 remaining. After that, the Tomahawks were able to pin the Owls in their end to run out the clock.

"I called the timeout to be like ‘Ok everyone take a deep breath,’" LeFrancois said. "There’s only two minutes left, we need to stay under control, don’t make any silly mistakes."

Merrimack avoid any mistakes and even had a chance to add to the lead on corner in the final minute, before holding on for the one-goal win.

It was the second time this season the teams played a close game, with Timberlane taking the regular-season meeting 2-1 back on Sept. 5\. That was the third game of the season for both teams and lot was different this time around for both sides.

While the Tomahawks were making their first postseason appearance in six years, the Owls were hosting their first playoff game since 2017, which was the second of back-to-back championship seasons for Timberlane.

"The nerves were definitely in there," Paul said. "This is our first time hosting in years. Overall play wasn’t bad. There were kids who really pushed themselves. And there were kids who it got to a little bit and I think that’s just because they’re younger.

"Did we want to win, did we want to keep going? Yeah, but we have to look at what we did this year. I think they finally realized Timberlane is coming back."