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11/12/2017 11:00 PMField Hockey
The Westbrook field hockey team played two games in Class S State Tournament action last week, winning its opener before losing in the quarterfinal round.
The Knights were the No. 8 and hosted 9th-seeded Waterford in a first-round game. Westbrook defeated the Lancers by a score of 1-0 to move on to face the No. 1 seed and Shoreline Conference Tournament champion North Branford in the quarterfinals. Westbrook took a 6-0 loss to finish the season with an overall record of 9-5-5.
Facing Waterford on Nov. 7, Westbrook limited the Lancers’ offense by not allowing a shot on goal. Head Coach Janet Dickey said that her team went into the game with a winning strategy, and that proved an immense help for the Knights.
“We had a game-plan and stuck with it that game,” said Coach Dickey. “We played really hard, focused ,and determined.”
Westbrook’s goal came from sophomore defender Kendall Orlowski on a penalty corner opportunity with Lauren Wright and Avery Bauman getting the assists. Coach Dickey viewed the goal as a great sign for the future of her squad.
“We got a goal from someone who doesn’t normally score on a penalty corner. It shows me going forward that I have more options,” said Dickey. “I already have ideas of what I would like to see us doing next year.”
On Nov. 9, the Knights went up against top-seeded North Branford on the road and lost 6-0. Despite the score, Coach Dickey thought her team played competitively against a very strong opponent. Freshman Lauren Horne made nine saves in the cage for the Knights.
“For a young squad with only one senior to compete at that level, I was very impressed,” Dickey said. “I hope they’ll take that to heart and work in the offseason to improve.”
Girls’ Soccer
The Knights’ girls’ soccer squad headed into the Class S State Tournament as the No. 21 seed and lost a road matchup against 12th-seeded East Granby, 3-2, on Nov. 7.
The game was tied 2-2 through regulation and overtime, and so it went to penalty kicks, where East Granby won by a 3-2 margin to get the victory. The Knights finished the year with a record of 6-10-1 and qualified for states for the first time since 2009.