Sports

Cardinals topple Tigers in a war, 3-1

By Christopher Shaban
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CLAREMONT — These two team are neighbors, play a similar style are very evenly matched and tonight they slugged it out to move on in New Hampshire tournament play.

Having faced each other twice in the last week with both games needing overtime to decide an outcome, Friday’s game was for all the marbles played in front of a huge crowd as the fence line was packed.

“We are so glad to be playing this year and grateful, this was a great match-up against a great program,” said Newport coach Steve Chritensen.

Solid midfield play and strong defenders made this back and forth game enjoyable to watch as breaks and rushes had the crowd alive. Abbie Thurber got the home crowd going with a goal after Julia Tursky’s shot floated at eye level in the goal before Thurber knocked it in. Bri Frisbee’s fancy stick handling in the middle of the field allowed her to dance around Newport defenders and made a charge on net to keep the Cardinal attack alive for stretches of time. On the Newport offensive end, Maddie Miller was the target of the Stevens defense as she drew double teams from Gabby Savo and Sara Faro all evening. As momentum shifted into the Cardinals favor, Emily Herbert’s goal doubled the Cardinals lead 2-0.

As they have done all season, the Tigers came roaring back when Eliza Bates used some fancy stick work to slice in from the corner and hit a laser that cut the Stevens lead to 2-1 as that score stood into the half as a pack of Tigers including Katie Sharron, Jenna Mayheu and Eden Rotondo all looking for a score.

The second half was just a track meet with back and forth action and the goal area became a nasty place to be with shots coming from all angles, sticks flying around and bodies crashing to the ground as Newport’s Kelsey Wheeler and the Cardinals Alex Perez were under attack. Miller nearly tied things as her blast whistled just wide but the Newport pressure kept coming. Perez was spectacular in the Cardinal net batting away high shots and kicking out worm burners to keep Stevens ahead. Zoey Foote would add a Cardinal insurance goal off a corner shot with an assist from Herbert and that 3-1 score would hold up as Perez continued to stone everything Newport threw at her.

“We knew that this was going to be a battle, we covered empty space every chance we got and tried to keep Newport in check tonight” Thurber said.

With Friday night’s win, the Cardinals have a date at Mascoma on Sunday.

“This was not easy at all, Newport is a very tough opponent but I think we’re jelling at the right time,” said Stevens heads coach Patty Deschaine. “We were so thankful just o be playing but once we started the playoffs, everything seemed to change. I’ve had emails of support, and the other teams at Stevens have been incredible, this is a wonderful community and I’m humbled by what is happening.”

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