RallyNorth.net

Destiny’s Darlings

Friday, June, 12 By Mike McMahon
Staff writer

MANCHESTER, N.H. — Londonderry made it clear from the start; the Lancers were simply a team of destiny.

After falling in last year’s state final, the Lancers scored redemption, capturing the first state title in program history with a 9-6 win over rival Pinkerton in the Division 1 championship.

“This is incredible,” said Eagle-Tribune scoring leader Kayla Green. “We knew from that start of the year that we had a good team. This was our goal from the start and to be here, to win this game, this is perfect.”

And perfect accurately sums up the Lancers season, who finished 18-0 in New Hampshire and 18-1 overall, with their only loss coming to Massachusetts state semifinalist Framingham.

A determined Londonderry squad took control early with Dana Boyle scoring her first of three goals just 20 seconds into the game.

Freshman midfielder Jennifer Thompson was stellar in the circle, winning three draw controls in the first half. Her win to open the game helped setup Boyle’s goal.

“She’s been terrific there all year,” said head coach Bob Slater. “Her wins have resulted in a lot of goals for us. It’s rare to have a freshman be an important part of your team, but she’s a big piece for us all season.”

After Mackenzie Schleicher’s free position shot gave the Lancers a 6-1 lead midway through the first half, the Astros took control of the possession. But despite being on the defensive for most of the final 33 minutes, the Lancers never broke.

“We have, by far, the best defense in the state,” Slater said. “Our practices run 90 minutes, and just 30 of those are spent on offense. Scoring goals is the easy part, but keeping the other team off the board is what wins big games.”

Pinkerton head coach Bryon Murphy praised the Lancers’ defense, but also pointed to poor shot selection.

“We’ve struggled with shot selection all year,” he said. “It’s something we’ve been working on. Give Londonderry credit, because they’re great in their own end and (Slater) coaches them so well on defense, but we have struggled with shot selection throughout the season and did for a time in this game, too.”

Pinkerton kept up the pressure in the second half, outshooting the Lancers 14-7 (and 23-19 in the game), but Londonderry netminder Taylor Hadcock answered with 17 saves, including some stellar point-blank stops off the sticks of Kacie Connal and Heather Carr.

“We talk about our defense and it starts from the net out,” said Slater. “Taylor comes up with the big saves when our defense might let someone in the middle. She had some big saves in the first half. It was such a close game that without those stops, who knows what might have happened.”

Pinkerton senior Nicole Curry’s 100th career goal made it 9-6 with 2:44 to play, but the Lancers defense answered yet again, keeping the Astros at bay.