By Christopher Shaban
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
WINDSOR, Vt. — The Yellow Jackets moved above the .500 mark on the season with their second straight shutout as Sophia Rockwood stood firm in net for Windsor during their 3-0 win over the Hartford Hurricanes.
“Once we found our rhythm, everything just clicked, goals are contagious,” said Yellow Jacket Head Coach Jeff Bachey. After a chess match took place in the middle third of the pitch over the first 15 minutes with both teams looking to find their way, it was Windsor who took control with a blitz on the Hartford goal. With shots headed toward the visitor’s goal very quickly, a scramble in the box, and a beautiful assist by Freshman Lily Keefe found the leg of Olivia MacLeay, and in the blink of an eye it was 1-0 Windsor. Moments later a shot rang off the Hartford post towards Cassie Clark and Clark’s shot trickled over the goal line for Windsor’s second score as Bachey’s team had grabbed all the momentum in a hurry.
The Windsor runners caused Hartford to spread their defense out to the sidelines as Kenzie Westcott, Brianna Barton and Sophia Duford gave the Canes fits. “We needed to respond, and we just didn’t. We are young and we need to limit our mistakes,” said Hartford coach Jeff Acker as his team is in rebuilding mode with no returning starters from last year’s team.
Windsor would hit the net once more before the half when MacLeay fed Audrey Rupp as she dashed down the middle of the field. Rupp muscled off the defender and planted her shot into the twine as the Jacks would head into the break leading 3-0. “I think that first goal really motivated us, we seem to come out timid to start some games but to grab that lead really helped our confidence,” said the sophomore Rupp.
With Hartford making adjustments at the break and forcing tempo more and more, Rockwood was tested but always rose to the challenge.
Twice Rockwood came far off her line to break up the Hartford rush with one tackle being almost near midfield.
Rockwood had some big time help in the defensive zone as Miah McAllister and Audri Pettirossi came up huge when needed, pushing the attack out towards the sidelines to preserve the shutout. “This team is very motivated, we have a long way to go but to grab our second shutout win in a row is a good feeling,” said MacLeay.
“This is how you start homecoming week, we had a fantastic effort today,” said Bachey as Windsor out shot Hartford by a 10-1 margin.
Windsor (3-2) will host Green Mountain (3-2) on Saturday at 4.
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