Photo: Kendall Regan (18) redirects a centering pass from Gigi Mastrangelo (8) for the game-winning goal as Belmont defeats Winchester, 3-1, in a top-ten match on Sept. 29 at Harris Field.
In its second meeting with a high-ranked opponent this month, Belmont High School Field Hockey came off Harris Field Monday, Sept. 29, with a scrappy 3-1 victory over one-loss Winchester to solidify its number 4 post in the Boston Globe poll.
Junior forward Gigi Mastrangelo – who earned one of the “Players of the Week” honors by the Boston Globe – scored the brace between sophomore Kendell Regan’s game-winning strike, her second in consecutive games. Sophomore goalie Zoe Bruce made a half-dozen important saves while the defensive wall of senior Niamh Lensky, junior Elsie Lakin-Schultz, and first-year Katie Townsend hampered Winchester’s quick forwards from taking clear shots at Bruce.
Belmont (7-1-0) is currently ranked 6th in the MIAA Division 1 power rankings.
With opponents focusing their attention on stopping senior midfield star MacKenzie Clarke [who set the Belmont career scoring record early this season], Smith has been relying on everyone on the field to contribute.
“[Goals] are coming off different sticks. Gigi had two, and Kendell got the other one, but [Lensky] got an assist and Mackenzie was involved in all three. In the scoring book, it’s not straight across just one person with all the points. Mackenzie didn’t need to score three goals for us to win, and that’s what we need. We needed other people to show up, and they did.”
Belmont had to play from behind for only the second time this year – the other being against Watertown – when Winchester’s senior forward Sloane McCarthy scored off a bouncing pass from sophomore Eliana Drake in the game’s first two and a half minutes. But that was a short-lived advantage for the Red and Black as five minutes later, Mastrangelo won a goal-line scramble that four teammates – the last being Lensky – passed around the scoring circle off a penalty corner to knot the game at one.
“I’d rather the first goal come two minutes into the game than the third quarter,” said Smith. “I knew we had a ton of time. I believe in the team. I know some of the older players can step up and make it happen.”
As one would expect from teams close in talent, the game was a contest to hold an advantage in the midfield to launch attacks. Belmont’s tactic to dull Winchester’s speed upfront was to challenge closely every time they held the ball, and do as much to disrupt passes or dribbling.
Belmont would take the lead with four minutes left in the third quarter off a penalty corner as Clarke returned the ball to the inserter Mastrangelo, who sent the ball through the goalie box to Regan’s waiting stick.
Belmont’s insurance goal came as the third quarter was winding down. Lakin-Schultz started play at midfield and found Clarke, who weaved past two Red and Black defenders and launched one of her patented reverse rockets from 15 meters out. This time, it was Mastrangelo at the far left post where, using her softball skills to great effect, deflected the rising shot into the top netting with 18 seconds remaining.
For the final 15 minutes, Belmont relied on the back three with senior Caroline French inserted as a sweeper to hold the fort. Belmont’s midfield of Mia Smith, seniors Nina Sheth-Voss and Avery Ranold, and Brooke Mahoney, were blocking passing lanes and helped clear out errant balls. Smith pointed out “the amazing job” Townsend did as she was assigned to shadow Drake. “I’m not sure that 14 got one strong shot on the net tonight.”
Bruce was “totally phenomenal,” said Smith, making several critical saves, including challenging Winchester’s Drake one-on-one as the midfielder attempted to get by the sophomore.
“You know, the three defenders are outstanding athletes. They’re multi-sport athletes who are strong and know where to be on the field. They understand space. They’re fighters. They’re just athletes through and through, and they make it happen,” said Smith.
Belmont begins an unprecedented number of road games, playing eight of their remaining 10 regular season matches away from Harris Field, including against Reading (which they defeated 2-1), Lexington (4-2), Winchester, and at non-league powerhouses Dover-Sherborne and Newburyport. They will be home on Thursday, Oct. 9, against Wilmington, and the final game of the season on Saturday, Oct. 25, for a Seniors Night contest vs Arlington.