Printer Friendly Version - Westbrook Field Hockey Takes 2-0 Loss to North Branford in Shoreline Final

Olivia Hartzell scored the game-winning goal in overtime when the Westbrook field hockey team edged Old Saybrook by a 2-1 score in the Shoreline Conference Tournament semifinals. The Knights went on to take a 2-0 defeat against North Branford in the championship game. Photo by Kelley Fryer/Harbor News

The Westbrook field hockey team earned a 2-1 overtime win versus Old Saybrook in the semifinals of the Shoreline Conference Tournament last week, before dropping a 2-0 decision against North Branford in the championship game. The Knights have an overall record of 14-2-2 as they get ready to play in the Class S State Tournament this week.

As the top seed in Shorelines, the Knights went up against No. 4 seed Old Saybrook in the semifinal round on Oct. 29. Old Saybrook picked up the first goal by scoring off a penalty corner to take a 1-0 lead in the first half. In the second half, senior captain Avery Bauman scored for Westbrook off an assist from Izzy Sigersmith on a penalty corner to tie the score 1-1.

With the score still tied after regulation, the two teams faced off in overtime and continued to play a tight game until Olivia Hartzell scored for the Knights with just 30 seconds left in the OT period. Bauman moved the ball toward the cage, and Hartzell managed to send it home for a goal to win it for Westbrook.

Head Coach Janet Dickey thought the Knights showed some resilience by battling back for their overtime victory against Old Saybrook.

“It was a tough game. They played very well. We managed to stay tight with them,” Dickey said. “They scored and we had to dig ourselves out. That was our first come-from-behind win all year. I was nice for the girls to see that they can do that.”

On Nov. 1, Westbrook went up against No. 2 seed North Branford in the Shoreline Conference Tournament final and lost a 2-0 decision to the Thunderbirds at the Indian River Complex in Clinton. North Branford scored a goal with 21:31 to go in the first half to take a 1-0 lead. The score stayed that way until the Thunderbirds added an insurance goal with 17:52 left in the game for the 2-0 final.

This week, Westbrook begins play in the Class S State Tournament. The Knights, who posted a 13-1-2 regular-season record, enter the tournament as the No. 4 seed. Westbrook faces off against 13th-seeded Canton in the first round of the tournament at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 6. A win in that game would move the Knights into the quarterfinal, where they would host the winner between No. 5 seed Nonnewaug (13-3) and 12th-seeded Waterford (9-7) on Thursday, Nov. 8. The semifinals take place on either Tuesday, Nov. 13 or Wednesday, Nov. 14; and the championship game will be held at Wethersfield High School on Saturday, Nov. 17.