Derryfield gets even with Boynton to win field hockey title

From left, Boynton’s Eden Traffie, Derryfield’s Emmy Solso, Reese Alix, Grace Matson, Margo Blake and Olivia Klebes watch the ball.

From left, Boynton’s Eden Traffie, Derryfield’s Emmy Solso, Reese Alix, Grace Matson, Margo Blake and Olivia Klebes watch the ball. —PHOTO BY LAUREN PASHAYAN

From left, Brooke Sallia and Kyra Rodriguez play defense as coach Mindy Vautour, Ellie Landguth, Brielle Bergeron and coach Michelle Saari watch from the sideline.

From left, Brooke Sallia and Kyra Rodriguez play defense as coach Mindy Vautour, Ellie Landguth, Brielle Bergeron and coach Michelle Saari watch from the sideline. —PHOTO BY LAUREN PASHAYAN

Charlotte Sirlin, Neha Veeranna, Brooke Sallia, Elizabeth Tenn, Kyra Rodriguez and Olivia Klebes watch the ball coming into Boynton’s defensive end.

Charlotte Sirlin, Neha Veeranna, Brooke Sallia, Elizabeth Tenn, Kyra Rodriguez and Olivia Klebes watch the ball coming into Boynton’s defensive end. —PHOTO BY LAUREN PASHAYAN

Derryfield goaltender Noelanni Hunter,  Havana Cormier, Grace Matson, Eden Traffie, Arya Campbell and Emmy Solso look to see what the official has called.

Derryfield goaltender Noelanni Hunter,  Havana Cormier, Grace Matson, Eden Traffie, Arya Campbell and Emmy Solso look to see what the official has called. —PHOTO BY LAUREN PASHAYAN

Kyra Rodriguez blasts one upfield as Lillian Knisley and Kelsey Lawler watch from the sideline.

Kyra Rodriguez blasts one upfield as Lillian Knisley and Kelsey Lawler watch from the sideline. —PHOTO BY LAUREN PASHAYAN

Brooke Sallia works the ball upfield, defended by Brooks Baker, as teammate Harper Alix watches.

Brooke Sallia works the ball upfield, defended by Brooks Baker, as teammate Harper Alix watches. —PHOTO BY LAUREN PASHAYAN

Coach Michelle Saari tends to Eden Traffie after Traffie was hit in the face by the ball.

Coach Michelle Saari tends to Eden Traffie after Traffie was hit in the face by the ball. —PHOTO BY LAUREN PASHAYAN

Brooke Sallia shoots the ball toward a Derryfield player while Grace Matson, Derryfield keeper Noelanni Hunter, Rosie Blake and Eptehal Yousif look on.

Brooke Sallia shoots the ball toward a Derryfield player while Grace Matson, Derryfield keeper Noelanni Hunter, Rosie Blake and Eptehal Yousif look on. —PHOTO BY LAUREN PASHAYAN

 Olivia Klebes tries to avoid having the ball hit her foot as Mia Saari watches.

 Olivia Klebes tries to avoid having the ball hit her foot as Mia Saari watches. —PHOTO BY LAUREN PASHAYAN

A battle in front of Derryfield’s net as Boynton’s Pippa Phillips and Reese Alix try to score against Cougars’ goalkeeper Noelanni Hunter.

A battle in front of Derryfield’s net as Boynton’s Pippa Phillips and Reese Alix try to score against Cougars’ goalkeeper Noelanni Hunter. —PHOTO BY LAUREN PASHAYAN

The disappointed Boynton Bulldogs watch Derryfield receive the championship medals.

The disappointed Boynton Bulldogs watch Derryfield receive the championship medals. PHOTO BY LAUREN PASHAYAN

By FRED FLORETH

For the Ledger-Transcript

Published: 11-04-2024 12:05 PM

The Derryfield Middle School girls’ field hockey team defeated Boynton Middle School Saturday afternoon 2-0 to claim the championship of Division 3 of the Tri-County League. The D-3 league is made up of the smallest schools from Hillsborough, Merrimack and Rockingham counties.

The victory was revenge for the Cougars, as the Bulldogs defeated them by the exact same 2-0 score in last year’s final. Derryfield’s head coach Tracy Blaisdell noted after the contest that, going into the championship, Boynton had not lost a game in two years. Earlier this season, Boynton had won at home over Derryfield 6-2, the only game the Cougars lost all year.

The game was scoreless until nine minutes into the third quarter when Derryfield eighth-grader Brooks Baker tallied the first goal given up by Boynton in the playoffs off a penalty corner. The insurance goal was scored by sixth-grader Charlotte Sirlin with 3:07 left in the game.

The championship was played on the artificial turf field at the Hollis-Brookline High School. It was the first game of the season for Boynton on an artificial surface, while Derryfield played their home games on turf.

Blaisdell praised her team, saying the championship was a “testament to the hard work her players had put in all season and to their teamwork.”

The game was a disappointing ending to the season for Boynton coaches Michelle Saari and Mindy Vautour. The Bulldogs finished with a record of 15-1, including a perfect 10-0 mark in regular season Tri-County League play.

The contest was the last game as Boynton field hockey players for captains Grace Matson, Emery Saari and Kyra Rodriguez, as well as for fellow eighth-graders Brielle Bergeron and defender Mia Saari. Matson scored one goal in the team’s three playoff games. Emery Saari was in the center of the midfielders who kept the ball in the opponents’ half of the field most of the season. Rodriguez anchored the defense, which allowed only five goals all year.

Seventh-grader Reese Alix led the Bulldogs in playoff scoring with five goals. Seventh-graders Olivia Klebes and Eden Traffie each scored two goals during the playoffs, as did sixth-grader Pippa Phillips.

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Other members of the Boynton team were seventh-graders Brooke Muhonen, defender Brooke Sallia, goalie Maddie Somero and Lillian Knisley, sixth-graders Anya Bergeron, midfielder Havana Cormier, Harper Alix, Kelsey Lawler and Bridget Raymer and fifth-graders Aralyn Hills, Maggie Higgins, Ellie Landguth and backup goalie Stella Neilson.