Page 203 - WHS FH 2014

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Class M Field Hockey: Wilton Offense Sweeps

Away Guilford

By Joe Ryan

WILTON -- The Wilton Warriors field hockey team
outscored their opponents 54-7 during the regular
season, so their coach Deirdre Hynes found it tough
to watch their offense struggle once the postseason
began.

According to Hynes, the team's inability to take
advantage of scoring chances led to an upset loss
against New Canaan in the FCIAC semi-finals, so
she spent the last week drilling her squad in
shooting.

The time was well spent, as Wilton outshot Guilford
28 to 1 on their way to a 6-0 win in the opening
round of the CIAC Class M tournament at Fujitani
Field.

It was also Senior Night with Meg Cunningham,
Delaney Baxendale, Kristen Godin and Caroline
Taverna being honored on the field after the game.
The celebration could have been for their
performance in this game, too, as Cunningham
scored twice to go along with two assists, while
Baxendale and Godin each added a tally plus Godin
set up another score. Hour photo/Matthew Vinci
Wilton's Megan Cunningham stickhandles as Guilford
Cunningham spoke afterward about how good it felt defenders close in during Tuesday's game.
to put the league playoff in the rearview mirror.
"It means a lot. We felt we had to redeem ourselves, but it was just one defeat," said Cunningham. "It was a
lesson to be learned -- a big lesson to be learned -- and it was a hard one, but we bounced back to do what we
did tonight, and it was great."

The domination was complete as the Warriors were awarded 16 penalty corners while the Indians were given
none. Hynes was pleased with what she saw on the field. "We had nine shots in the first half, which I think were
more than we had in the Greenwich and New Canaan games combined in the FCIAC's," said Hynes. "We've
been dominating, but we couldn't get shots even on penalties we couldn't get shots, but I think tonight we got
the shots and it translated into goals." Hynes had a bit trepidation as they came out flat in her estimation for the
first five minutes, but Bridget Ward scored a goal set up by Cunningham to give Wilton a 1-0 lead and a release