WINDSOR, Vt. – Just a few years ago some Yellow Jacket field hockey players teamed with Springfield and helped capture a championship after low numbers wouldn’t support a Windsor team and now, the sky is the limit as Windsor bested the Cosmos 5-0 on Tuesday.
Windsor head coach Jody Wood has had the honor of playing and now coaching at Windsor, and Tuesday was one of those memorable games that will never be forgotten, as Angelina Bigwood set a new Windsor single-season scoring record with now 22 goals on the season.
Windsor entered the contest with a sparkling 9-3 mark and looked to improve on that record. Peyton Richardson’s blast from just inside the arc got things rolling at the 8 minute mark and Bigwood would double that score 4 minutes later with a hard shot from straight away for her 21st goal of the year, tying the Yellow Jacket record.
With the Yellow Jackets rolling and Springfield’s Anna Church (15 saves) being tested often with hits from Karen Kupuscinski and Alyssa Slocum, Hannah Wood’s blast upped the Windsor lead to 3-0 midway into the first half.
Windsor’s quickness and depth barely allowed Springfield any time on the Windsor side of the field as the Yellow Jackets were playing downhill toward Church. Sadie Balch and Ashley Grela controlled the midfield for Windsor as Springfield’s Natalia Dorcely couldn’t find room to run.
With the pressure still in Windsor’s favor, Bigwood headed toward net and fired off a shot that rattled the back of the cage for a 4-0 lead and brought a halt to the action as the Windsor bench emptied to swarm Bigwood on the field after her record-breaking goal.
The goal from Bigwood set a new Windsor record with her 22ndof the season and would break the previous record held by Haley Wood (21) since 2014, who is Jody Wood’s daughter. Ironically, Jody (Farnsworth) Wood was the record-holder until her daughter broke her 19-goal benchmark which held up since 1992.
Windsor would add another goal as Richardson would score late in the game but the day belonged to Bigwood.
“It’s great to have all this attention but what matters most to me is a win and making a deep run in the playoffs,” said Bigwood. “It’s an honor to be able to set a new scoring mark but I want to win a championship and I think we can and I couldn’t be any more proud of this team than I am right now.”
Windsor will close out the regular season on Saturday against otter Valley with a senior-less game as the Yellow Jackets will return every player next season while Springfield will host Woodstock, also on Saturday.
“To be the player, to be the player’s mom, and to be the player’s coach is such a remarkable feeling,” said coach Wood. “I am so grateful.”
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