Newport field hockey upsets Winnisquam in round one

#10 Newport 3, #7 Winnisquam 1

After the game had been pushed back to 6:30 p.m. due to poor playing conditions at Winnisquam, the Tigers of Newport came up with the upset on Tuesday night in the first round of the NHIAA D-III field hockey playoffs, 3-1.

It was Winnisquam who put the first goal on the board as they scored just eight minutes in, with the halftime score standing at 1-0 Winnisquam. Newport rallied for three second half goals and shut Winnisquam down for the remainder of the game. “At the half, I told the girls, ‘it’s one-zip, you’ve been in this position so many times,’” said Newport head coach Steve Christensen. “I think it took them the first half to get accustomed to the turf field, but then we started to get the ball moving outside and attacked the inside.”

Ten minutes into the second half, Maddie Miller scored, with assists on the play credited to Eliza Bates and Selena Coronis. Eight minutes later, Miller added another goal, with assists from Bates and Lacey McNeel. And, with eight minutes left in the game, McNeel iced the game with a breakaway goal for the Tigers. Penalty corners: Winnisquam 6, Newport 4. Newport’s Kelsey Wheeler picked up 8 saves for her first playoff win. Newport returns to action in the quarterfinals at #2 Hopkinton on Friday at 3 p.m.

Hopkinton hosted the Tigers earlier this season, beating Newport 6-1. They have ten seniors and will provide a true test for Newport. “The girls are looking for another shot at them,” said coach Christensen.