CHS field hockey opens 2-0 after delayed start

By Jay Turner

After enduring multiple weather cancellations that delayed the start of their season by more than a week, the CHS varsity field hockey team finally took the field on Friday and came through with an impressive season-opening performance, kicking off their Davenport Division title defense with a 2-1 comeback victory over visiting Franklin.

Three days later, the lady Bulldogs welcomed Stoughton to town and made quick work of the Black Knights in an eventual 5-0 win, improving to 2-0 on the young season.

For head coach Chrissy O’Connor, it’s been “so far, so good” for her promising Bulldogs squad, which features a nice mix of young and veteran talent.

“We’re definitely still working some kinks out,” acknowledged O’Connor, who sees a high ceiling for this year’s team. “We’re just trying to get everyone on the same page and figure out for ourselves who belongs where on the field.”

Among those making an early impact for the lady Bulldogs is senior captain Maggie Malloy, who scored both of the team’s goals against Franklin — within a two-minute span in the second half — and added two more Monday against Stoughton. Also notching goals in the win over the Knights were seniors Maggie Connolly and Shannon Crowley and junior captain Kaitlyn Goyetch.

The team defense has also looked solid behind the play of senior captains Katie Trerice and Molly Cummings, while sophomore Riley O’Connor is off to a strong start in her first season as the Bulldogs’ starting goalie.

In addition to a strong corps of upperclassmen, this year’s team also features several promising younger players, including sophomores Maria Femia, Meghan LaBelle, Allie Gefteas and Rose Malloy and freshman Erin Lane, who has already seen some significant playing time.

Coming off a 14-3-1 season and a trip to the D1 south semifinals, the Bulldogs go into 2018 with high expectations and certainly appear to have the firepower to be a legitimate contender. O’Connor herself believes they are “right on par” with Foxboro and some of the other top Hockomock teams and is looking forward to seeing how they fare against top competition.

The coach certainly won’t have to wait long as the Bulldogs get set to face two very tough opponents this week in King Philip (5-0) and nonleague Walpole (4-0). Both teams are undefeated and among the early favorites for the Division 1 state title.

“I think that this week will be a good indication for our team as to where they’re at and what they need to work on and what they need to do to compete in the postseason,” said O’Connor.

The KP game gets underway this afternoon in Wrentham while the Walpole tilt is scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m. in Walpole. The girls then head to Sharon on Monday with back-to-back home games looming next week against Mansfield and Foxboro.

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