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Hornets fall after late goal by Generals

Tuesday, April, 08 By Richard Slate
Correspondent

After the full 50 minutes had passed, the scoreboard read Hamilton-Wenham 8, Manchester Essex 7 but for the Hornets (0-2) there were many positive signs to take out of this tight contest against one of its main Cape Ann League foes.

"It was a great game between two very evenly-matched teams," said Manchester Essex head coach Sarah Holch. "Our defense really pulled it together after the Masconomet game. The passing was much better and our offense was more patient and settled, they weren't forcing it as much."

Four different players scored for Manchester Essex, highlighted by senior attack Hayley Irwin (3 goals) and senior attack Molly Osborne (2 goals, 2 assists). Freshman goalie Vicki Grimes (7 saves) made some impressive stops, particularly in the second half.

The Hornets also displayed mental toughness, as they battled back from a two-goal deficit in the first half and a three-goal deficit in the second half before giving up the game-winning goal to Hamilton-Wenham's Olivia Shiland (3 goals, assist) with a few minutes left in the contest.  

"They've always been our rival so it was intense," noted tri-captain Molly Osborne. "We grew up with the daughter of their JV coach so we know most of their players well."

Shiland opened the scoring early in the game. Manchester Essex responded as Irwin notched her first goal on a fast break, with a nice assist from junior midfielder Simone Bodmer-Turner.

Hamilton-Wenham's Cassie Penta (2 goals, assist) scored an unassisted tally before she assisted on Shiland's second goal, putting the Generals up 3-1.

Up to that point, Hamilton-Wenham dominated time of possession and seemingly won every loose ball. Things started to change in Manchester Essex's favor as Osborne found senior attack Anneliese Brosch (goal, assist) with a pretty pass right in front of the Generals net for a goal.

Soon after, Brosch had another chance skip wide of the cage. The Generals kept committing penalties in their own end and eventually the Hornets made them pay. Junior Jen Bishop was stopped by Hamilton-Wenham goalie Julia Croyle (7 saves) but junior attack Annie Osborne scored off a feed from Brosch.  

Manchester Essex had the ball in the Hamilton-Wenham zone right before the halftime whistle but couldn't get a shot off. The visitors clearly had the momentum going into the break though.

Hamilton-Wenham came out on fire to start the second half. The Generals scored three goals in a row, including two by Deb Tam (2 goals, assist), pushing the lead to 6-3. It could have been even worse too as Dana Wilfaht (goal) hit the crossbar and Grimes made a kick save on a free-position shot.

Manchester Essex called a timeout to regroup and it worked out perfectly as they came back with a three-goal spurt of their own.

Irwin had back-to-back goals before Osborne scored the goal of the game, to tie it at six. Osborne scooped up a ground ball behind midfield and ran by multiple defenders before firing a low, hard shot that eluded Croyle.

Hamilton-Wenham dominated draws all afternoon, none more important than the one Penta controlled and took to the net, scoring a goal to put her team up 7-6.

Osborne had the answer once again as she drove to the net from the side and scored to tie it at seven. Next, Shiland registered the game-winner and then the Generals played keep away for the final two minutes. It was a frustrating end to a solid performance from the Hornets.

    "They were stalling us in the last two minutes," remarked Holch. "Molly Osborne definitely was our strongest attack player today and Hayley Irwin did a really good job around the net. Our goalie made some big saves, she's only been playing lacrosse for two weeks. She's a freshman and she stepped up to play goalie when we needed one."