Lady Rams Host State Tournament Action

November 11, 2009 by Greg Lederer

The Cheshire High School field hockey team opens the Class L Tournament against a familiar face today, at 2 p.m. Cheshire (seventh seed; 10-4-1-1 record) hosts Hamden High School (10th seed; 9-4-2-1 record) in a rematch of an overtime thriller from Oct. 16. Senior forward Allison Fountain tallied the game-winning goal (2-1) with 6:52 left, as the Rams outlasted visiting Hamden.
“I think they are emotionally charged when they play us. I used to teach there,” said Cheshire Head Coach Eileen Gallagher. “They have never beaten us. Both teams play with passion.”
“I’m excited to play them again,” added central back Emily O’Halloran, a senior captain with Lauren Hague and Katharine Eddy. “I think the girls are more intense during the tournament. Every game could be your last.”
The Rams previously compiled a 25-5 advantage in shots, but Hamden junior goalkeeper Colleen Murphy (23 saves) denied many opportunities during a scoreless first half. Junior forward Alayna DePaolo broke the silence, converting an interior pass from Hague less than two minutes into the second stanza. Cheshire looked to extend their lead, only Murphy saved a penalty stroke from Hague. Hamden forced overtime when Amanda Del Cervo scored at the 3:56 mark.
Hague also assisted on Fountain’s decisive score. Senior goalkeeper Kailey Farrell provided seven saves in the victory.
“I’m confident that we are preparing well, but so are they. It comes down to who wants it more,” explained Gallagher. “We need to be more dynamic with our shots. That’s our top focus.”
Field hockey isn’t the only team hosting a playoff game today. Following a 1-0 home win over Hamden (25th seed) on Monday, Cheshire girls’ soccer (eighth seed; 14-4-1 record) faces ninth-seeded Greenwich (11-3-2 record), at 2 p.m. Greenwich compiled a 4-0 shutout of Middletown (24th seed) to advance to the Class LL second round.
“It’s amazing and a sigh of relief to be in the second round,” stated junior mid-fielder Cailynn Harding, who assisted the game-winning goal against Hamden. “We’re going to go out and play hard.”
Cheshire dominated the ball from start to finish against Hamden, although they have struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities this fall. The Rams finished with a 13-5 advantage in shots, but entered halftime with the game scoreless.
“It took us awhile to get into the game,” junior mid-fielder Molly Dupont explained.
Dupont converted the only goal they would need. Harding saw a turnaround shot clank off the right post, but instead of giving up on the play, she raced to the left baseline and sent the ball across the goal. Dupont brought the ball down and headed it past senior goalkeeper Jami Kranich with 30:21 remaining.
“Whenever we score, we calm down and relax,” added Dupont, who netted her second game-winner of the season.
Harding initiated offense and won multiple balls off headers. Senior goalkeeper Erica Correa (two saves) completed her 11th shutout of the season.
“She could start for anybody in the state,” said Cheshire Head Coach Crane, of Harding. “She is a team player.”
Senior starters Amanda Roke and Marnee Dupont, a captain with senior central back Casey Nowakowski, missed the game to illness.
“I got the call that Marnee and Amanda had the flu. We’ll have to evaluate them,” explained Crane. “I’m hoping I don’t have more.”