By Christopher Shaban
Eagle Times Correspondent
WINDSOR, VT — The Windsor field hockey team was quicker, outplaying Brattleboro in a convincing 3-1 win on Friday, Oct. 13, as the Jacks finally found their game after a brutal season schedule.
“We are coming together,” said Yellow Jacket Coach Blake Holden as the Jacks jumped out to a 2-0 lead and kept the pace in their favor for most of the game.
Relentless pressure for Windsor paid off quickly as Anna Preece smacked her shot into the cage to put the Jacks on the board with a large and loud crowd packed along the sidelines.
“I didn’t realize for a moment it went in but once I did, I was just so happy. This game was very important to us with playoffs approaching and being senior day made it all the more special,” said Preece.
The midfield was controlled by Windsor for big stretches as Mackenzie Kleefish, Gianna Felice and Grace Blanchard were dominant and very quick to the ball. Add in Amber Simonds, who crept in from her back position, and the Jack attack was on. Gwen Ambrose was a ball magnet all game and her goal midway in the second period was a laser from close range giving Windsor a 2-0 lead into the break.
Windsor came out of the half with a great chance to put the Bears away with a pass by Gabriella Gilbert from the sideline slipped right across the goal line that was just inches off the sticks of Kleefish and Hannah Tenney as Windsor was goal hunting.
Brattleboro got back in the game after Lizzy Gould fired a shot that just kept rising until it found the net to cut the lead to 2-1 early in the third period.
Gilbert has been looking for four leaf clovers all season on the field and today luck was in her corner.
“I can’t believe I found two today,” she said. Gilbert found more magic when a blast off the lumber of Felice was directed by Gilbert into the net giving Windsor a big 3-1 lead. “We executed well today. This team is ready and we are getting better. I am so proud of the effort today but a little sad at the same time because it’s senior day.”
Windsor holds the third seed in Division 3 and held the Bears at bay over the final 15 minutes, improving their record to 6-5 as Sydney Perry, back from an injury, grabbed the win with 3 saves.
“This was the start of our postseason; we are very excited,” said Perry. “This team has grown so much this year and I think we are ready for the next step.”
The Yellow Jackets have games at Division 3 Springfield, home against Division 1 Bellows Falls and on the road at Division 2 Otter Valley before the real postseason begins.
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