Scrappy Yellow Jackets Fall in OT

By Christopher Shaban
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
MONTPELIER, Vt. —With only one senior, a new coach and many improved teams in Division 3, there was no way Windsor was supposed to be in the semi-finals trying to defend their three in a row state titles. But they were and gave top ranked Montpelier (12-4) all they wanted before a spectacular goal in overtime sent Windsor home early for the first time in three years, 3-2.

“Wow did they ever give everything they had in this one, there isn’t a prouder coach than I am,” said first-year Windsor coach Blake Wardwell. Milou Haegens put the Solons up 1-0 after the first period as Windsor was playing on turf for the first time all season.

With the Yellow Jackets getting their feet under them a bit, Zina Peckinpaug, Hannah Tenney and Gwen Ambrose were seeing plenty of action on the left side of the field. A beautiful cross found Piper Vivian and her blast froze Montpelier’s keeper as the shot hit the back of the goal making it 1-1.

Montpelier was very athletic and lightning quick as an attack and a goal from Carregan Walke gave the Solons a 2-1 lead into the break. Corners at the break were even at three apiece.

Montpelier came out of the break as the aggressors and Sydney Perry was under attack in the Windsor goal but defenders Fern Day, Emma Saur and Maddy Holzwarth came up big to keep Windsor in the game as play entered the final period. Montpelier had more chances while the Jacks were dodging bullets into the final period until The Yellow Jackets attacked quickly. In a scrum in front of the goal, Tenney turned and ripped off a burner that whistled past the Solons keeper to tie the game 2-2 as the Windsor players were jumping all over the turf. Montpelier worked hard and brought the pressure on Perry with corners and screaming shots that sent Perry to the ground for a spectacular save as the game was headed into overtime.

Seven-v-Seven is how overtime goes in field hockey, and as good as Perry was to end the regulation part, she was unbelievable in the overtime period. On a breakaway from Elliot Muller, Perry was a wall and stopped the Solons leading scorer, but the shots kept flying her way. A kick save sent the ball out past the circle then a laser shot from just inside the box was redirected into the cage by Walke for the game winner sending Montpelier into the championship game against #2 Fair Haven.

“You all played your hearts out, you should all be very proud of yourselves to come back twice,” said Wardwell.

After the teams congratulated each other, not only both referees sought out Perry to offer their congratulations, but so did the keeper from Missisquoi Valley who was in awe of Perry’s performance, as her team watched the final period and overtime as they waited to play next.

Windsor finished the season with a 7-9 record.