Souhegan field hockey shuts out Goffstown to remain unbeaten (video)

GOFFSTOWN - The Souhegan High School field hockey team has at times had to shuffle its lineup early this season.

While at times it's showed early in games for the Sabers, as different players in different roles have tried to mesh, the results have been perfect so far.

That trend continued Wednesday, as Souhegan withstood an early onslaught by Goffstown before getting goals from Nicole O'Rourke and Julia Ireland to grab a 2-0 win over the Grizzlies in a Division II game.

The win moved the Sabers to 5-0 on the season and they are one of three teams in the state who has yet to allow a goal; Kennett and Windham are the others.

"We’re down four players right now," Souhegan coach Kelli Braley said. "I can not speak enough to this team, the way it’s built, the depth that they have, their willingness to do whatever is necessary for the common good. Right now, that’s what is really firing on all cylinders for us, the selflessness and the willingness to be a role player when they’re supposed to be a role player and to step up when their number gets called. Every single one of them has done the job."

Avery Karavas picked up an assist on O'Rourke's goal, which made it a 1-0 game with 13:44 left in the first half, and goalie Ellie Byram had a save in the first half. Goffstown (2-4) had four penalty corners in the game, all of which came in the first half.

Souhegan had just two corners in the first half and Goffstown goalie Sarah Mattison made four saves.

"I thought they played a great game," Goffstown coach Jess Brown said. "Overall, I thought it was strong and I liked how they played. I liked the defensive carries out of the circle, I liked the ball movement up field, I think we just fell short in being able to finish on opportunities."

The Grizzlies had most of those opportunities in the first half, as they came out and controlled possession early in the game. Goffstown had two corners in the first 15 minutes but couldn't get a shot off on either one.

Souhegan got its first corner of the game moments after, and at first, it looked like Goffstown was going to clear the circle. But the Sabers were able to keep it in and get a shot off. Mattison made the save, but the rebound trickled behind her and O'Rourke was there to tap it in for a 1-0 lead.

"I think a lot of it was that we were trying to communicate and figure out which strategy was going to be best for us," Souhegan senior Isabelle Aiello said. "It usually takes us time to adjust and I think a lot of it was our communication. We were really clumped, we weren’t really talking."

It was still 1-0 at halftime and through most of the second half, as the teams went back and forth in the midfield until Ireland sent a ball in from the top left of the circle. The shot seemed to surprise players on both teams and it found the far corner of the goal with 10:28 to play to make it 2-0.

"The second (goal) loosened a little bit of the tightness in my chest, but not a ton," Braley said. "Goffstown has a lot of fire power up there and they seem like the type of team to me that, as soon as they get one, there’s blood in the water and they’re coming for more.

"It was essential for us to be tight in the circle because I did not think one was going to do the job. I wasn’t really comfortable with two either because they’ve got serious fire power up there. I thought our defense played great in the circle, we had awesome sticks in the circle."

It took a moment for the Grizzlies to regroup and they were able to push play onto Souhegan's side of the field, but couldn't get much going in the final 10 minutes.

"It’s hard to get a goal when we don’t get in the circle," Brown said. "We had to create more opportunities in the circle. It just felt like so much of the play was evenly matched. Being down (one) wasn’t necessarily the worst, but being down two was hard when you’ve got 10 minutes left to play."

Both teams return to action on Friday, as Souhegan heads to Plymouth for a 4 p.m. start and Goffstown travels to Oyster River for a 4:30 p.m. start.