Field Hockey: Marauders Are Playoff Bound With Emphatic Victory

Four years ago, when Belmont High School Field Hockey Head Coach Jessica Smith was pregnant with her first child, Maya, her team (13-2-3) went on to their best preseason finish, reaching the semi-finals of the North Division 2 sectionals. 

Two years ago, a month after giving birth to her second child, Henry, Smith's team – the best in school history with a 13-2-1 record – "beat" Watertown High School on the field if not on the scoreboard in the North sectional finals.

And today, pregnant with her third child, this year's edition of the Marauders have just ripped off seven wins with one tie including last night's, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 7-0 home victory over Burlington High School securing Belmont's place in post-season play.

Coincident? 

"No way! I just space out my good teams," Smith said with a laugh last month.

And you can add senior players taking leadership roles on and off the field, a group of young players who learned the game in the youth field hockey program as well as forwards who love to shot and score for the success of this year's team which now sports a 9-2-1 record. 

And when the horn went off last night to signal the end of the match, the team went screaming onto Harris Field to celebrate their early entry into the post season.

"It's amazing and that we have six games to go," said Smith. 

"Now we will be playing for a good seed in the tournament. It does take a lot of pressure off of us. But we still need to beat those good teams in preparation for states and just to prove we are as good as our record," she said. 

Not that the game's outcome was in doubt as Belmont went ahead 2-0 (from goals by Beth Young and Serena Nally) in the first half against Burlington which was seeking its first win of the season.

While Belmont goaltender Kate Saylor had a relatively easy night – except for a solid breakaway save midway through the second half – Belmont's midfielders, led by senior standout Suzanne Noone, kept the pressure on Burlington's defenders. 

"I thought [Noone] had a great game in midfield today," said Smith. "She delivered the ball and was responsible for leading to a number of goals and there are times when she just takes over and that's what she did tonight." 

The second half saw Belmont demonstrate its improving counter attack and the willingness of seemingly everyone on the field to take a shot, whether from well outside the scoring zone or from within a few meters in front of the goal. Young (her second), Noone and Belmont's leading scorer freshman Anne-Marie Habelow scored once in the final 16 minutes while Haley Fay put the ball into the net twice.

"We never know who is going to score which is so much better. I put people off the bench and they score. It's different people all the time and that's the best thing you can have," said Smith.