CLAREMONT – Five Stevens’ seniors can now say that they won their last career high school game played on their home field, as the Cardinals downed Monadnock 2-1 Tuesday night.
Cardinal seniors Ashlee Brown, Sophie Foote, Hailey LaClair, Carrie Faro and Ryann Rider were all greeted before the game with flowers and family members on the field on a perfect fall night in the city before a large crowd. Once the game began, their leadership was needed, as the Cardinals snapped a three-game losing streak and, “did what they had to do,” according to Stevens head coach Patty Deschaine after the game.
With Brown and Foote leading the offensive charge, Stevens began as the aggressor and looked to light up the scoreboard early but couldn’t snap off a clean shot in a crowded goal area. Julia Tursky and Brianna Frisbee began to slide toward net and the pressure mounted in the Monadnock end, when Emily Emerson’s low line drive hit took it’s time but found the back of the goal to give Stevens an early 1-0 lead midway into the half.
“That goal really felt good and it seemed to take some pressure off of us,” said Faro after the game.
That good feeling would only last for 5 minutes as Monadnock tied the game 1-1 with 11 minutes left in the half and that score stood to the break, with Stevens out shooting the visitors 11-6 in the half.
Stevens was playing their fifth game in six days and looked tired early in the second half as Monadnock tried to take a lead, but Rider was up to the challenge making nice kick saves.
“There was no way we were going to lose this game tonight,” said Rider. “I believe in my team and we did just what I thought we would do.”
A much needed spark came off the stick of Foote that lit a fire for the Cardinals as her goal gave Stevens a 2-1 lead and momentum was in Stevens favor.
“Honestly, we knew we were going to win tonight and make a run in the playoffs… I just knew it,” said Foote after the field had cleared.
With the seniors taking a big role in the momentum swing, Julia Tursky, Brianna Frisbee and Fallon Lavertue really started making big contributions. Sophie Foote’s shot was just wide and soon after that miss, Gabby Savo, Brown and Cally Barrette all had extended time in the offensive zone which produced three Stevens corners. Zoey Foote and Frisbee were in control of the middle of the field and Turskey was playing with lots of intensity as Stevens was looking to put the game away.
“We played so much better tonight than in the past few games and it felt like we were really starting to find our rhythm out there tonight,” said LaClair after the game.
With Monadnock desperate for a goal, Abbie Thurber had a great steal and Clara Avery’s clear during a Husky rush was a big play. Stevens would run out the clock to preserve the 2-1 win for the Cardinals.
“It was a tough game but this team believes in itself and the heart and soul as a group, and tonight we were not going to be denied,” said Brown.
Stevens improves to 6-6-1 and will close out the regular season at Lebanon on Saturday at 1 p.m. and will wait for the seedings to be announced on Sunday. It looks like they will be on the road for a first round playoff game on Tuesday. They are currently in the tenth position in NH D-III, just behind Newport.
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