Rivalries are a critical viewing experience in the sports community. What’s better than watching the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs deck it out on the ice? What’s more iconic than the Red Sox and Yankees rivalry, with the infamous A-Rod/Varitek fight in 2004?
The Gloucester and Danvers rivalry has been deep-rooted for decades and hasn’t let up. While some Gloucester sports have been struggling against the Falcons in recent years, Field Hockey has been one of the most consistent squads.
The two NEC enemies have gone back and forth during the past two seasons. In 2022, Gloucester went 1-0-1 against the Falcon squad. Danvers took the series the following season.
To kick off the 2024 series, Gloucester took down the Danvers Falcons in a 1-0 bout. Julia Palk scored her third goal of the season with Elliana Parsons assisting.
The Fishermen took control of the game early, with Palk’s goal coming in at 13:23 in the first quarter. Parsons had a stellar pass across the net for Palk to shoot it past the Falcon goalie.
The Fishermen remained in control for much of the first half, spending most of their time in Danvers’ half.
While the game remained scoreless throughout the second half, Gloucester’s dominance of the ball faltered. Gloucester’s gameplay became sloppy and Danvers often beat the Fishermen to the ball. The Fishermen gained control back in the fourth quarter, with captain Keagan Jewell blocking all of Danvers’ shots, including an impressive save on a breakaway.
“The team pulled off an early goal, which was extremely beneficial considering the nature of the game,” coach Lauren Riley-Gove said post-game. “The hustle picked up in the fourth quarter, but we need to bring that energy [for the full] 60 minutes of every game. I’m so proud of their efforts and I’m looking forward to the second half of the season.”
