MANCHESTER, NH — Derryfield School hadn’t been enjoying its highest box hockey heading into the D-II State Tournament. The workforce limped around the end line of the common season with losses to Lebanon (2-1) and Kennett (3-0).
Fortunately for the Cougars, they rediscovered their sport when it mattered maximum.
Kira Geddes scored a third-quarter purpose and goalie Jessica Avalon grew to become apart six pictures to lift No. 6 Derryfield past No. 11 Goffstown, 1-0, within the opening spherical of the match, Wednesday afternoon.
The Cougars advance to tackle No. 3 Portsmouth (7-0 over Sanborn) in a quarterfinal contest, Saturday at the seacoast.
“It’s survival at this point and I think all the coaches are looking at it the same way,” stated Derryfield Coach Kelsey Federico.
Goffstown and Derryfield had met early within the common season, with the Cougars coasting to a 5-2 victory in a wide-open contest. As ceaselessly occurs come match time, protection ruled Wednesday’s playoff sport. Neither workforce was once prepared to take too many possibilities and high quality scoring bids have been tricky to come back via.
The Derryfield protection, led via sweeper Kenzie Miller, annoyed the Goffstown forwards again and again, offering Avalon with bought coverage right through the sport.
“They did awesome. We work on that a lot, we stress that,” stated Federico. “And this is the point that our backs and our defensive unit comes in handy, when it comes to having a shutout, especially in a playoff game.”
After a slow first part, Derryfield got here out at the assault within the 1/3 quarter and earned a penalty nook simply 30 seconds in. Midfielder Kennedy Overhoff put the ball in play with an excellent go to Geddes on the most sensible of the circle. Geddes settled the ball temporarily and rifled a low line force that whistled thru a display and located the again of the cage for her nineteenth purpose of the season.
A little while later, Geddes just about doubled the lead, however her vicious backhand was once kicked out via Goffstown goalie Molly Braica.
.@GHSSPORTS21 box hockey goalie Molly Braica makes a kick save on a vicious backhand shot via @DSCougars’ Kira Geddes within the Cougars’ 1-0 D-II match win, Wednesday.@ManchInkLink @nhhssports @nhsportspage %.twitter.com/xfpQgcNc4G
— Bill Gilman (@bgilman66) October 20, 2022
But it will end up that Derryfield wouldn’t want the insurance coverage purpose. What scoring possibilities Goffstown did organize have been grew to become apart via Avalon, Derryfield’s proficient sophomore goalie. The Grizzlies’ highest offensive stretch got here within the 1/3 duration. Trailing 1-0, they buzzed the pressed the assault and had the Cougars on their heels for 3 mins. Avalon made stellar back-to-back saves on bids via Nora Erwin and Kendall Dubois. Later, off a penalty nook, she made a kick save on a shot via Avery Brisiel.
“I told (our players) at the end of the game, that’s one of the things that a consistent goalie will do for you. She’ll make the saves that she is supposed to make and keep you in the game,” stated Federico, a former goalie for UMass Lowell.
