Dighton-Rehoboth Field Hockey Team Opens Season with Victory

FAIRHAVEN - The Dighton-Rehoboth field hockey started slow but finished with a full sprint, scoring four unanswered goals to top Fairhaven, 4-1, and open the 2019 season with a victory. “It was our first game and we had a very slow start,” D-R coach Meghan Marcotte said after the game. “We really picked it up at halftime and came together as a team in that second half. Overall, it was a good opening game for us.”

Fairhaven got on the board first, less than five minutes into the game for an early 1-0 lead. D-R’s Hailey Calore tied it at one with a goal off a corner with 6:25 left in the first half as the Falcons went into halftime at a windy Cushman Park tied at one apiece.

D-R sealed the game in the second half with three scores and solid defense as the Falcons held Fairhaven scoreless after intermission. “Defensively, we stepped it up in the second half,” Marcotte said. “We were more aggressive clearing it and it made a big difference.”

Marcotte credited several Falcons for the defensive effort in the second half, including center-mid Natalia Martin and defender Grace Fagundes. “Natalia played solid offensively and defensively,” Marcotte said. “And Grace really stepped up in the second half.”

REPORTERTODAY.COM MVP: Katie Moura and Hailey Calore each had a goal and an assist to lead the Falcons offensively.

D-R STATS: Cassie Lunghi and Kaylee Goss also scored. … Assists were tallied by Jenna Kelley, Kam Marando and Kiersten Spearin.

FAIRHAVEN STATS: Kyleigh Williams scored the only goal for the Blue Devils.

YOUNG FALCONS HAVE SOME WORK TO DO: D-R has only five players who saw varsity time before Wednesday’s game, and Marcotte said this young team has several things to improve on as the season goes on. “Our communication and endurance,” she said. “At times today, we had some girls watching the ball, not sure who was going to get it, so we need to do a better job at calling out to each other. We’re also going to work on our endurance to be able to play the entire game at a high level. It’s a long game of running.”

FAIRHAVEN COACH JULIE SUNDERLAND: “We came out strong for about 20 minutes, then we got tired. D-R was good. They held their stamina much better than we did.”

MARCOTTE ON D-R EXPECTATIONS: “We always have high expectations. We’re going to have to work hard every single game with our schedule. As long as they’re willing to put in the work, we’ll be good.”

SUNDERLAND ON FAIRHAVEN GOALS: “The goal is to make the tournament. It’s been a while, we’ve been close a few times, but I think we can do it if we pull together.”

UP NEXT FOR D-R: The Falcons (1-0) will host Case in the home-opener Friday at 3:30 p.m.

Coaches, please send game results, photos, story ideas, accomplishments, etc. to sports@reportertoday.com.