Winnacunnet field hockey picks up win over Nashua South (video)

NASHUA - With young players filling in new positions, scoring goals has at times been a tough task for the Winnacunnet High School field hockey team.

Leave it to a couple of seniors to get the job done Wednesday for the Warriors.

Jen Frost and Hayden Adams both scored and Winnacunnet kept Nashua South from registering a shot on goal as the Warriors grabbed a 2-0 win over the Panthers in a Division I game at Stellos Stadium.

Adams picked up an assist on Frost's goal and Fiona McAfee also had an assist, while the Warriors defense was under pressure from the Panthers, but managed to come out unscathed.

"We started off kind of slow, but we did come together," Winnacunnet coach Heidi Hand said. "They did a great job keeping the ball up in our end. The biggest thing we need to work on is finishing.

"That’s been a big thing, but this year, we have a lot of young girls and they’re stepping up to positions they’re not used to. I think that’s great. We’re starting to come together as a team."

Frost gave Winnacunnet (4-0, No. 5 in the NHHSSports Coaches Poll) a 1-0 lead with 5:09 left in the first half. Adams sent the ball into the circle toward Frost, who tried to slow the ball down to possess it better.

Instead, the ball deflected off her stick and into the goal for a 1-0 lead that the Warriors took into halftime. Winnacunnet had a penalty corner as time expired, but sent the ball out of bounds to end the half.

"Would have been nice to not give up that first goal, then it’s different at halftime," South coach Ciki McIntire said. "I thought they competed. I knew Winnacunnet would be a good team, but I thought we competed and we made them work for everything they got. I think they believe in themselves and it’s going to come together at some point."

There were opportunities for South (1-5) in the second half. The Panthers stopped the Warriors on a pair of corners to open the third quarter, getting a couple of saves from Xiadani DeLaLima (15 saves) to keep it a one-goal game.

After the early push by Winnacunnet, play evened out, and with about six minutes left, South had its best chance, keeping the ball in the circle. It looked like the ball might have hit a Warrior foot, but no call was made, and Winnacunnet eventually cleared, turning it into a chance at the other end.

A long pass into the circle was tipped on goal by McKinley Fowler, but DeLaLima made the save. The rebound went right back to Fowler, but her second-chance effort went wide on the far side.

"The biggest thing is just to finish," Hand said. "Like I said to them, the goals don’t need to be pretty. Sometimes, I think they try to hard and they’re thinking way too much about it. When we score, it picks up their tempo and aggressiveness. It’s key."

The Warriors finally got that goal with 13:13 left in the game, when Adams battled with DeLaLima f or the ball in front and put it past the goalie for a 2-0 lead.

South had a chance to get on the board late, getting a corner with about two minutes to play, but was unable to get a shot off.

"I’ve got to give to Nashua South, they played hard," Hand said. "They didn’t give up and played right to the end. Those girls were right on us and they had a great game. They’re right there."

It's only the second time this season that the Panthers have been shutout and their fourth game decided by two goals or less.

"They don’t give up," McIntire said. "Even then, it’s the last three minutes of the game and we got a corner. We’ve just got to finish. They’re working hard, that’s all I can ask, and they’re giving these tops teams a run for their money. It’s not just a walk in the park for them."