WESTBROOK – On the same Tuesday afternoon that saw second-ranked Cheverus knocked off by Thornton Academy, No. 3 Westbrook had the critical task of putting away a Bonny Eagle Scots team that was determined to play spoiler. A win for the Blue Blazes combined with a loss by the Stags would likely lead to Westbrook seizing control of the No. 2 slot in the field hockey playoffs and its crucial home field advantage for the duration of the playoffs. A loss would cast the playoff scene into confusion.

Put to the task, the Blazes came out strong, dominating play from the outset, putting up a quick 1-0 lead off a corner shot by senior forward Olivia Marsden, and then closing the deal in the second half through the clutch defense of goalie Maryssa Arsenault and a pair of security goals. When the dust settled, Westbrook had prevailed 3-0 – just in time to receive the good news about Cheverus’ impending stumble.

“I think we can move into second place off this win,” said Westbrook Head Coach Beth Murphy, who was proven correct as the latest Heal Points released on Oct. 13 have the Blazes in the No. 2 slot. “If not, we’ve at least secured home field through the first round. Really, I think it’s anybody’s game at this point. There is no one dominant team in the league – everybody has one loss. It’s really all about who is going to come to play.”

And play is what Westbrook did right from the starting whistle. The Blazes were dominant in the first half, particularly during the initial 12 minutes of play, when Westbrook had scoring opportunities off five penalty corners. Of these, only one – at 2:26 into the game – bore fruit, when senior forward Taryn Ferrante played the corner put-in and passed over to Marsden, who went to one knee as she sliced in the go-ahead goal. The Blazes never looked back.

“Our last game we had 28 corners and we lost,” Marsden said. “It was stressful. But we have been working plays, so we were just happy that we got at least one in. We need to work on following our shots. That’s how you put one in.”

Despite continuing to control the pace of the game following Marsden’s goal, the Blazes would not strike again prior to the half. When the Scots threatened, it was typically on the fast break, with the ball on the stick of dynamic senior forward Peyton Dostie. At all costs, Westbrook worked to shut Dostie down.

“Dostie is a very good player, and very unselfish – I think, perhaps at times she’s a little too unselfish,” Murphy said. “Defensively my two kids played her well. Katrina Romano played outstanding today, and I pretty much had Sydney Herbert play (Dostie) man-to-man in the middle today. I’m that ‘strategy coach’ where if there’s a good player we’re going to try to man her on so she doesn’t get the ball.”

There was no letdown for the Blazes at the start of the second half, but as the minutes rolled by and the score remained at 1-0, it felt increasingly like a single mistake could potentially cost Westbrook the game. No better chance for the Scots came than at 24:45, when Dostie was able to shake off a pair of defenders and break unchecked into the Blazes’ side of the field. All that stood between Dostie and a tying goal was Arsenault, who – rather than shy away from the task – came charging out of the net to meet the Bonny Eagle forward. As Dostie’s shot flew at her, Arsenault coolly leaned back and booted a beautiful save into the clear. Arsenault? Try annihilator.

“I heard the backs yelling to me, telling me to run after it, so I just went after it,” Arsenault said. “It really is (my worst nightmare) if it’s just me and whoever is coming on me. It’s scary. I was just thinking “please, don’t score.” Then I kicked it out.”

Arsenault’s save preserved the slim margin for the Blazes, and allowed Westbrook to gather themselves for a final push 10 minutes later. At 14:35 remaining, the Blue Blazes entered their second penalty corner in 30 seconds, and were able to rip off a second score when senior forward Sarah Howard’s pass was slapped in by junior midfielder Kayla Winton. Barely a minute later, Westbrook found the net again, this time as senior forward Melissa Pettis beat the defense, tore down the right sideline, and then hit a beautiful delayed shot that crossed in front of the Scots’ goal and clanged in to the left side.

“When they scored the two goals, my feeling was complete relief,” Arsenault said. “When they score quick goals like that, one after another, you start to feel like we’ve got this. When it’s 1-0, it could be anyone’s game.”

The win improves Westbrook to 11-3 on the year, while Bonny Eagle falls to 9-5. The Scots will enter the playoffs as the No. 7 seed.

“We’re probably going to have to travel, and I told them that we’re going to need to be mentally prepared for that,” said Bonny Eagle Head Coach Caterina Riitano. “We’re going to need to work on that, because – like today – I think we’re sometimes not one hundred percent mentally prepared when we get off the bus, and it takes us a little time to get up to where we need to be.”

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