Claremont
Senior Sophie Foote had a huge play, poking in the game-winning goal in the midst of a scrum four minutes into the second half.
The goal was not only a game-winner on Foote’s senior night, but it was her first goal of the season.
“I really wanted it for those five seniors tonight,” Stevens coach Patty Deschaine said. “I didn’t know what they would bring. We had a tough loss yesterday (to Newport, 5-2), but they came back and fought hard. They were definitely ready to play.”
Another Stevens senior, goalkeeper Ryann Rider, played a crucial role in the Cardinals’ win, making four tough saves on five shots, all in close. The defense, led by senior Hailey LaClair’s multiple crucial clears out of the Monadnock scoring circle, helped Rider out, especially in the second half, when Stevens allowed only Monadnock one shot.
“We’re a second-half team,” Deschaine said. “For some reason, they just know we have to step it up, and they did. Patience is everything. They knew they were passing to no one (in the first half), and they had to get it out wide.”
The Cardinals’ defensive strength and energy in the second half entirely shut Monadnock down. Stevens kept the ball in the offensive zone and did not allow the Huskies a chance to tie the game.
Stevens’ Emily Emerson scored the first goal of the game 15 minutes into the contest. Julia Tursky delivered a penalty corner to senior Ashlee Brown, whose drive bounced to Emerson for the junior’s first varsity goal. The Huskies scored off a scrum to tie the game, 1-1, with a little more than 11 minutes left in the opening half.
Foote’s game-winning goal came with 26 minutes left in the contest. Multiple Cardinals tried to get a shot on net in a goalmouth scramble, and Foote finished the job after the ball rolled behind the Monandock goaltender.
Stevens (6-6-1) travels to Lebanon (8-3-1) on Saturday for its final game of the regular season, looking to avenge a 3-0 loss suffered earlier in the season.