Losing the last regular season game in a upset is no way to head into the postseason.
But that was exactly the situation the Weston High School field hockey team found itself in after losing to Lincoln-Sudbury, 1-0. The third-seed Wildcats quickly brushed off any aftereffects of that game and soundly beat the 14th-seeded Reading Rockets, 3-0, Thursday afternoon in the Div. 1 North Sectional first round.
Weston coach Laura Galopim laid credit for her mentally tough team at the feet of the upperclasswomen.
“We’ve very senior-laden,” she said. “And if the seniors step up like they should, and like they have all season, I think we’ll continue to be united and play well together.”
The Wildcats improve to 15-2-2 with the triumph and now host Natick for a 2:30 p.m. contest Saturday. Meanwhile, the Rockets exit the tournament at 8-8-2.
“Weston is a great team,” said Reading coach Mim Jarema. “They have a great program--beautiful, strong tradition. The kids have great stick skills. They played a nice game.”
Pressuring from the start of the affair, the Wildcats finally cashed in halfway through the first portion when Ally Gosman scored on a pass from Christina Warner. Weston then added to its advantaged at 6:14 off a corner. Warner again provided the relay, giving the ball to Grace Truscott, who buried it right side.
Three minutes into the second half, the Wildcats once more found success off the corner. This time perfect stick to stick passing led to the final combo of Truscott to Grace McCurdy, who netted the tally giving Weston the 3-0 lead.
The goal ignited a Reading offensive surge that eventually resulted in Kelly Dynan drilling a 20-foot shot. But that was saved by Wildcats goalie Sara Coburn and the rest of the Rockets opportunities would also be stifled.