Middleboro beats Apponequet and makes the playoffs
Oct 26, 2023
Sidney Nickerson (Middleboro, Right) takes on Cynthia Morales. Photos by Emma Rindlisbacher
Apponequet’s Kristina Jorge defends against Middleboro’s Olivia Hartman.
Apponequet Goalkeeper Allison Arruda defends the goal.
MIDDLEBORO – The Middleboro girls varsity field hockey team had the home turf advantage during their game against the Apponequet Lakers on Wednesday, Oct. 26. The Sachems won their home game with a score of 3-0, thanks to the three goals the team scored on corners in the second half.
This was the second time the two teams had competed against each other this season. On their first encounter on Thursday, Oct. 19, Apponequet won the game 1-0.
Both teams’ coaches said that one factor that influenced the two games was the playing surfaces both games were played on. The Lakers practice and play their home games on grass fields, while Middleboro’s field is made of artificial turf. The first game which the Lakers won was played at Apponequet, while the most recent game, which Middleboro won, was played in Middleboro.
“We had the advantage on the grass. They obviously had the advantage on the turf,” Lakers coach Cindy Cuthbertson said. “We have nowhere to go to practice on turf… [because] all we have is a grass field.”
“We are predominantly a turf team,” Sachems coach Lisa Perry said. “We know Apponequet is a grass team, so whenever we play on grass it’s always a challenge.
The game was quiet for the first two quarters, with neither team scoring any goals. Middleboro finally broke through in the third quarter thanks to a well taken corner. Corners are a type of penalty.
Perry said that the Sachems had worked on scoring from corners all season and that the team used specific scripted plays to increase the chances of scoring. The coaches said that the result had playoff implications for both of their teams.
The game was “a tough loss” for Apponequet, Cuthbertson said, “especially since we beat them last time.”
Middleboro was seeded at 30th place and needed to be seeded above 32 to make the playoffs, Perry said. “This is an important game today,” Perry said. Middleboro ended up making the playoffs while Apponequet missed out this year.
“My kids' mindset is they were determined,” Perry said. “This is crunch time for playoffs.”
