Font ResizeBRATTLEBORO -- Hartford goalie Audrey Devost would have needed binoculars in order to follow the action during the first half of Wednesday night’s field hockey game on Tenney Field.
The Hurricane forwards attacked with racehorse speed and looked very much like a heavy favorite, before pulling away and entering the winner’s circle with a 3-1 victory over host Brattleboro.
"At halftime, I told them that we needed to turn it around," said Brattleboro coach Deb Valliere, who had watched the visitors completely dominate over the first 30 minutes. "And they did exactly what I asked them to. They kept pushing and eventually got a goal."
The Hurricanes built a 2-0 lead on burials from Esme Cole and Allison Courtemanche. The second of those came with 17 minutes remaining, as Kali Covell fed the ball in on a penalty corner and Hartford passed it around before Courtemanche drove it home.
"Their second goal was beautiful," noted the BUHS coach.
Left wing Meghan Kinsman excited the home crowd with a couple of second-half threats. Kayla Savage, who had earlier made a nice crossing pass to Becca Freeman, blasted a shot into the back of the cage from the right wing to get the Colonels on the board.
"I just moved her up from midfield to forward yesterday at practice," said Valliere. "She’s so aggressive and she works so hard. I felt like she earned it."
The Hurricanes would control play down the
Devost did her best to stay awake early on, while her offense got a number of penalty corners and good looks in the first half. Hartford striker Jenna Yee put on a show -- a quality centering pass, a point-blank attempt and then an acrobatic shot following a steal in the Brattleboro zone.
Dyer denied Yee and also made a pretty save when Elizabeth Bergeron dribbled in from the right side. And she got plenty of help from her defenders, as McKinlie Carpenter broke up a penalty corner, Meghan Powell disrupted a rally by Courtemanche and Ariel Watson cleared the ball out of danger.
But the Colonels had trouble crossing midfield. Their first-half highlight was started by middy Daisy Giroux, who made a sweet pass ahead to Daija Germain and she found Kinsman open on the left wing.
That may have been the only time Devost actually moved over the first 30 minutes of play.
Dyer would deflect a shot by Kehoe late in the opening half. The Hurricanes then got a nice centering pass from Courtney Murray, followed by wicked shots by Alex Fogg and Rachel Fogg.
After the intermission, the home crowd found plenty to cheer about. Kinsman showed off her speed along the left side and Savage started taking it right at the opposing defense.
When the game ended, the junior asked her coach if the goal she scored was enough to keep her at the forward position.
It’s a pretty safe bet that Valliere will keep her there.
The 0-1 Colonels will play at Woodstock on Saturday.
Shane Covey can be reached at scovey@reformer.com or by calling 802-254-2311, ext. 163.
