Kacey Roberts scores in overtime to give Frontier field hockey championship
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SOUTH HADLEY - It took until the second overtime for the Frontier Regional field hockey team to put a shot on goal, but Kacey Roberts made it count.
The senior forward scored the golden goal with 8 minutes, 10 seconds left in double overtime to give the top-seeded Red Hawks a 1-0 victory over Smith Academy in the Western Massachusetts Division 2 Tournament final Friday at Mount Holyoke College.
"Taryn (Marquis) shot it and it came to me, so I just pushed it in," Roberts said. "It feels amazing for the team to be able to win. We've worked so hard. We deserve it. It feels really good to win."
The victory marks the 11th all-time western Massachusetts title for Frontier and third in Division 2. The Red Hawks won titles under legendary coach Vi Goodnow in 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1983 and 1992. Division 2 began in 1997.
"It feels amazing. I'm so happy," said sophomore goaltender Gwen Thayer, who made seven saves in the shutout. "I'm so proud of our team and so proud of all of my teammates. Everyone has worked so hard and played so well."
The Red Hawks (18-0-2) will play central Massachusetts winner Oakmont (21-0-0) in the state semifinals on Monday at Foley Stadium in Worcester at a time to be announced.
Smith Academy (No. 2, 11-7-2) controlled play for much of the game and enjoyed a 14-10 advantage on corner opportunities.
"We dominated a lot of the play. It just happens sometimes that it doesn't end up the way you want them to," Falcons first-year coach Dena Polverari said. "There are games where other teams have dominated and we've won. That just happens sometimes. We didn't put the ball in the back of the net and that's just the way it happens."
Smith had seven corners and five shots on goal during regulation. Sophomore Danielle Duseau and junior Emiko Barker both had looks in front of the goal during the second half, but couldn't score.
"Smith's defense was excellent. (Bridget Campbell) played phenomenal," said Frontier coach Missy Mahar, who played for Goodnow. Duseau and Barker "were great on the counterattack. They knew what they needed to do against us and they shut down our goal-scoring opportunities during regulation."
The Falcons had the best chance in the first seven-on-seven overtime period when Alyssa Woodward broke through to the left post, but Thayer made the save with 12:09 left.
"We knew we couldn't (sit back and) defend and I thought during that 7 v 7, we attacked really well," Barker said. "We had a lot of shots and corners. I'm really proud of everyone. There is no other team I'd want to be a part of."
Smith had three more corners over the next 7:50, but couldn't convert.
"It was so stressful. I was just hoping that our team would get it out and we did every time," Thayer said. "That was a lot of pressure and our team handled it very well. I'm just so happy we won. Everyone did great and we pulled through."
The Falcons then had to hold off a Frontier corner with no time left to force the second overtime period.
"It was a really tough game," Roberts said. "Smith played very well. We just kept the pressure up and tried to use good pressure to get the ball up the field.
Frontier came out strong in the second overtime, but didn't get a solid scoring chance until the game winner when Taryn Marquis sent a shot toward the goal, which hit a defenders stick and went off Smith goalie Lauren Bradford before Roberts blasted home the rebound.
"It feels amazing for the team to be able to win," Roberts said. "We've worked so hard. We deserve it. It feels really good to win."
Mahar said the team spent time all season preparing for seven-on-seven tournament situations, mentally, physically and strategically.
"We always talked, even during the regular season, that we needed to be tournament ready. We were conditioned for 60 minutes and decided we needed to be conditioned for 90, so we altered our practice in that way," she said. "Once tournament was set and the seedings were announced, we incorporated 7 v 7 into practice because we know how important it is. We touched on some crucial points. They played 7 v 7 very effectively today."
The loss marked the end of the careers of Smith seniors Alyssa Woodward, Lauren Dymek, Amanda Hebert and Campbell.
The Falcons have reached five of the last six finals and won titles in 2007 and 2009.
"I'm really proud of everyone," Barker said. "I've never even made it to a 7 v 7 overtime. I'm just really proud of the girls because honestly, no one thought we would make tournament. For being this far, getting this far, I love every one of them.
"We have really high hopes for next year. We know we can get through anything that comes our way and get back here."
Jim Pignatiello can be reached at jpignatiello@gazettenet.com.
