News

Windsor repeats as state champions

By Christopher Shaban
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BURLINGTON, Vt. — Only four years ago this team was beginning a comeback of the program and on Saturday they walked off the turf field as repeat state champions after downing Stowe 2-1.

“This is the best feeling in the world, to think back to how we started as freshmen and to finish our senior year as champions is incredible,” said co-caption Hannah Wood after the game with tears strolling down her cheeks.

The Yellow Jackets knocked off Stowe in last year’s championship game at the University of Vermont 3-0 and on Saturday the Jacks found themselves locked in a battle with the same team. In a back and forth battle centered around midfield play, a Windsor break resulted in junior Karen Kapuscinski rattling the cage from straight away at the seven-minute mark putting Windsor up 1-0.

“That first goal really settled things down and let the flow of the game come to us,” said Windsor head coach Jody Wood.

Stowe turned things up a notch as they were in control while putting Windsor’s defense to the test. Paige Kleefish, Sadie Balch and Reese Perry were stretched thin as Stowe used a possum tactic to draw defenders away from the middle and slipped passes into the center.

“We saw what they were doing and adjusted, our rotation was spot on today and having Glenna Ricard in net is just a great feeling to have,” Balch said.

While Stowe desperately looked for an equalizer, it was the Windsor counter attack that controlled play. With Wood, Kapuscinski, Ashley Grela and Peyton Richardson teeing things up on Stowe’s Abigail Casavant, Windsor would settle for a 1-0 halftime lead as Stowe was playing with fire.

The midfield was the place to be at the start of the second half as both teams raced in the middle third of the field for possession and it was Windsor who once again controlled tempo with Wood and Alyssa Slocum the center pieces. Solucm’s rush from her own defensive side of the field drew lots of attention and when Wood gather in a Slucum slotted pass, in the blink of an eye her one time shot was just a rocket that never rose more than a foot off the ground and crashed into the wood for a 2-0 Yellow Jacket lead.

Stowe would answer right back when Reagan Smith wiggled one in with a pile of people in the goal area cutting the Windsor lead to 2-1 as they entered the frantic final period.

With Stowe pushing players forward, Slocum was issued a green card giving her a spot on the sidelines for two minutes and putting Windsor a player down.

“That was the longest two minutes of my life,” said Slocum after the game.

Stowe was knocking on the door with corners and a goal area packed with black jersey’s but on an incredible steal, it was Wood who emerged from the carnage and headed toward net on a full field rush. That gave Windsor the breathing room they needed while keeping the ball in the Stowe side of the field. Yellow Jacket pressure had more looks at net with Amber Simond’s shot just whistling wide as the countdown was starting. Windsor kept pressing play while the ball was kept in the Stowe side of the field until the final buzzer went off giving the Yellow Jackets their second championship in a row.

“We were ready but last night was hard, I don’t think anyone slept,” Balch said. “I was texting all night with Hannah and Aly talking about what we would do in the game. I maybe got three hours of sleep.”

“How do you put into words what happened, I’m just ecstatic and couldn’t be happier for the seniors, they brought this back for Windsor,” Kapuscinski said.

As the parade was being organized for their return home, J. Wood took a moment to reflect what had just happened.

“This group of players gave something extra special this year, not only were we grateful just to be playing but the seniors that have dedicated themselves to bringing this program back is something that I will never forget,” said Wood as she chocked back tears then headed to embrace Hannah.

“This is a day I will never forget, the bus ride up was incredible we were all so loose and happy but when we stepped on the field it was all business,” Slucom said. “Now we can celebrate and I can’t wait to get back to Windsor and the parade.”

Windsor would close out a perfect season and without a doubt put Windsor field hockey on the map in a big way.

“I don’t think anyone would have thought four years ago that Windsor would be here today but we did, this team is just full of remarkable people from the coaches to the players and their families and to everyone who never gave up on us,” H. Wood said. “I am Windsor proud.”

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