Page 252 - WHS FH 2014 Memory Book - Megan Cunningham

Thursday, November 20, 2014 © Hersam Acorn Newspapers

Title Reign Ends with 2-1 Loss in State Finals

By J.B. Cozens

Daniel Hand scored two goals in a span of 52 seconds early in the second half to break a scoreless game and
held off a frantic Wilton comeback to beat the Warriors 2-1 in the Class M state field hockey championship
game last Saturday in Wethersfield. The loss ended Wilton’s three-year reign as Class M state champs. The top-
seeded Warriors finished a tremendous season with a record of 17-4-1-0. It was the fifth most wins in a season
ever by a Wilton team.

The state title was the first for second-seeded Hand (18-2-2-0), one of the winningest program in the state the
past decade, which was making its fifth trip to the finals. The Tigers lost to Wilton in the 2006 state finals, and
also last year in the semifinals. Overall, the two teams have met seven times in the playoffs the last 14 years.
Saturday’s title match was a defensive battle in the first half, with a lot of back and forth action but only one
shot on goal and three penalty corners combined. Both teams picked up the pace in the second half, which saw a
total of nine corners. Wilton had some excellent chances early in the second half. On a corner in the first minute
of the half, Delaney Baxendale’s pass was just missed at the post by Katherine Campbell. About eight minutes
later, Bridget Ward had a good scoring chance, which led to another corner. But Wilton couldn’t connect after a