Published October 22, 2020
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — It was a busy stretch for the North Reading High field hockey team as they played four games in a six-day span. On Tuesday afternoon, the Hornets won at Hamilton-Wenham by a final of 5-2.
With that victory, their third in their last four games, the Hornets improved to 4-2-1.
Senior co-captain Morgan Majeski scored two goals in the first quarter, The first one was unassisted while her sister Mary, assisted on the second one.
Junior Kiersten Fortin made it 3-0 with 2:04 left in the first assisted by Karleigh Budny.
The Generals got on the scoreboard with 59 seconds left in the first quarter. They then cut the lead to one with 6:15 left in the second quarter.
Morgan Majeski then completed her first hat trick of the year with 7:39 remaining in the third with the assist going to Paige Thibedeau.
Mary Majeski had the final tally, unassisted, with 14:08 left in the game.
With the score at 3-2, defender Amelia Milano made a save that allowed the Hornets to keep the lead.
“The momentum could have changed in their favor had they scored,” pointed out Hornet head coach Andrea Slaven.
Slaven also praised Morgan Majeski’s offense.
“She has really improved a lot the last four years,” said Slaven. “She has become very tenacious on offense.”
Hornet goalie Emma Borland made seven saves to go to 4-2-1 in net.
Topped by Pentucket
On Monday, the Hornets lost 4-2 at Pentucket.
“Adjusting to playing on a grass surface was something we struggled with early on,” admitted Slaven, as North Reading fell behind 3-0 in the first half.
The Sachems scored twice in the first quarter and then made it 3-0 with 4:26 remaining in the second.
Freshman Keely Hannon got the locals on the scoreboard with 3:06 left in the second assisted by Thibedeau.
Pentucket increased their advantage to three just four minutes into the third quarter and, in the fourth, Hannon scored her fourth goal of the season assisted by Morgan Majeski to round out the scoring.
“We dug ourselves too much of a hole but I was proud of the way we fought back,” said Slaven.
Borland made five saves in goal.
Beat Amesbury 3-1
On Oct. 16, in a driving rainstorm, the Hornets beat visiting Amesbury 3-1.
Hannon scored, unassisted, with 6:05 left in the first period. Emma Lord made it 2-0 with 1:15 left in the second with senior co-captain Ava Czarnota assisting.
“That goal gave us some momentum,” recalled Slaven, about the second tally.
That lead held until there was 4:38 left in the game as the Indians scored to make things interesting.
Thibedeau then got the insurance goal with 1:17 left assisted by Mary Majeski.
“Both goalies (Borland and Sydney Calderwood) both played very well,” said Slaven. “They have become good friends and it was nice to see the respect they showed each other after the game.”
Borland made five saves while Calderwood kept her team in the game with 14 stops.
Shut out Rockport
On Oct. 15, the Hornets blanked visiting Rockport, 4-0.
North Reading led 3-0 at the half as Czarnota recorded her first hat trick of the year while Thibedeau also found the back of the Viking net. Hannon and Lindsay Keller each had one assist.
“We came out of the gate strong,” stated Slaven.
With four saves, Borland posted her first shutout of the year.
On Oct. 23, the Hornets visit Ipswich at 4:30 p.m. North Reading will then hold its Senior Day on Oct. 27 as they welcome Manchester-Essex.
Before that game, the eight Hornet seniors will be honored.
That contest will start at 5:30 p.m.
