MARBLEHEAD — By name, Vikings are meant to conquer. But Wednesday evening at Marblehead High school, they got caught in the magic.
The Marblehead Magicians scored their fifth win of the season – along with 13 goals – to take down the Winthrop Vikings, 13-4, on Senior Day.
But you could say it wasn’t as easy as the scoreline shows. Winthrop cashed in on an opening-minute goal, courtesy of Avalina Coffey.
It didn’t last long, however, as Marblehead’s Gretchen Smith scored two of the Magicians’ first three goals to give her side a 3-1 cushion after one.
Fast forward to the second quarter. That’s when Marblehead started to dominate possession and make Winthrop pay.
The hosts scored three quick goals out of the break. The first came from Ramona Gillett (4 goals, 4 ground balls), then it was Avery Wysor (goal, assist) and Kathryn Commoss (3 goals, assist) who made it 6-1 midway through the frame.
“We’ve been relying on some of our high attackers and they stepped up. Gretchen Smith had two goals, Kathryn Commoss had three goals,” said Marblehead coach Annie Madden. “Both of them have worked hard throughout the season to put the ball in the back of the net, roll the crease, and be dynamic when on the field.”
The Magicians held a 10-2 lead at the half. The key? Ball movement, according to Madden.
“Finding different people out on the field and making sure we kept the ball moving. We wanted to keep the ball hot and moving so it didn’t get stuck in one person’s stick, where it would be easy for the other team to take,” Madden said.
Freshman goalie Molly Bullard wasn’t tested often, thanks to the imperious defense of Kate Burns and Courtney Hoguet.
“Defensively, we rely heavily on the leadership of Kate Burns and Courtney Hoguet. The two of them are consistent and have great footwork,” Madden said. “They don’t always have the ball in their sticks, but that doesn’t mean much. If you’re able to play man-defense, that means you have athletic girls who know how to play and where to be.”
In the rare moment that Winthrop got past the Magicians’ defense, Bullard recorded 11 saves.
“Being a goalie is tough because it’s a mental game. She came out ready to play. It was a redemption game for her. We lost to Masco on Monday, but today, she stepped up and made some great saves,” Madden said.
From there, Madden’s group ate the clock and moved the ball around the offensive zone until the zeros appeared.
After the game, Madden praised her seniors for what they’ve done from day one – on and off the field.
“We have 10 seniors who all fill different roles for us on the field and off. They took ownership of today’s game and came to play,” Madden said. “They put in the time and dedication for the past four years, and they earned this win today.”
Madden talked about her team’s togetherness, and how “all 27 kids” make an impact.
“I’m proud of the entire team. We have a large roster of 27 kids. We had to figure out the best way for us to win and, today, I think it showed,” Madden said. “It takes more than just one player on the field to win. Success looks different for every team. I think some of our real strengths this year are that we’re really supportive and we’re truly a team.”
The Magicians’ next game is Saturday when they host Melrose at 1 p.m.
