Masconomet Regional High School’s field hockey team has been the team to beat since they entered the Northeastern Conference in 2020. The team won 35 out of their 37 games, with only two ties and 0 losses, since joining the conference. The “since,” however, is now in the past. The Gloucester Field Hockey team beat Masco Tuesday afternoon with a 4-0 win.
Lexi Carollo started off the game right with a breakaway up the field and a pass to Captain Ariana Scola. Captain Abby Lowthers scored her first goal of the night from a pass by Anna Cinelli early in the game. Joie Cody had a good block and steal on defense before passing the ball up the field. Lily Pregent soon scored with another assist from Cinelli.
Captain Ella Costa had a good pass to her teammate to get the ball away from Masco. Keagan Jewell was a beast at the net, with a strong kick up to Scola. Sophomore Emma Carrapichosa had a good stop at defense to prevent the ball from Jewell. When it did reach her, however, Jewell dove to stop the shot from getting through. Scola drove the ball up the field and into Masco territory. Lowthers scored after an unsuccessful corner attempt by Gloucester.
During a breakaway, Pregent’s leg guard flew off her leg and Masco unfortunately got a free hit. But they had no chance after freshman Olivia Madruga laid down a hard block and took it up the field. Lowthers scored her third goal in the third quarter, completing a hat-trick.
Masconomet got a green card, with the referee citing a delay of the game. Cody was a major threat to Masco on defense, who blocked almost all the balls that came in her direction. Anna Hafey played an amazing game as well, blocking balls and shooting them upfield for her forwards. Costa made several jabs throughout the game as well.
Jewell had yet another layout save at the net. She soon saved another ball, which Gloucester took up and away. Pregent took a good shot on the net after another breakaway. Cinelli saved the ball from leaving fair territory and Joie executed a block on the out-of-bounds line short after.
This game was an easy win for the team, but head coach Lauren Riley-Gove said she doesn’t want the team to get too confident. “We got Marblehead on Thursday,” she said. “That’ll be a game for sure.”
Arguably, Gloucester has stolen Masconomet’s title of “the team to beat.” Despite the loss in their season opener, a lot of teams still fear Gloucester’s impact against them in the Northeastern Conference. “We’ve got a target on our backs,” Riley-Gove said earlier this season.
The Fisherman play Marblehead at Newell Stadium on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. Make sure to pack the stands for the Fisherman!
