Somerset Berkley shuts out Hingham for repeat title in Div. 2
BURLINGTON – Behind a third-period frenzy that produced all three of its goals, and a stoic defensive performance, the third-seeded Somerset Berkley field hockey repeated as Div. 2 state champions with a 3-0 win over No. 1 Hingham in the state final Saturday afternoon.
Addie Finlaw, Ella Vaught and Julie Pacheco each scored the goals for the co-ed Blue Raiders (22-1), while goalie Mia Wiley (eight saves) and a charged defensive effort limited the Harbormen (20-2-1) attack in the program’s first state final appearance.
Somerset Berkley repeats titles for a second time, last doing so in the 2018-19 seasons.
“It feels great,” said Blue Raiders head coach Jen Crook. “They were a great team. They were very, very athletic. We were lucky that we were able to put three goals in the net.”
The first quarter brought an offensive fury from Somerset Berkley, producing six corners – with four in a row. Hingham flyer Emily Kiernan did well alongside the rest of the Harbormen corner defense to get out of the jam, applying pressure on Ryan Crook and Finlaw atop the circle. Hingham goalie Molly McDonald (five saves) got in the way of two shots.
Hingham goalie Molly McDonald, right, makes a kick save as Somerset Berkley’s Emma Cormier leaps to allow the shot go between her legs during the first quarter Saturday. (Photo by Paul Connors/Media News Group/Boston Herald)
After teams carried shutouts into the second half, Somerset Berkley couldn’t be contained on the next two corners. Ryan Crook’s send in front was tipped to the post by Emma Cormier, right to Vaught for a shot that drew a penalty stroke. Finlaw buried it less than two minutes into the third quarter for a 1-0 lead.
Somerset Berkley executed the same corner play shortly after, with Vaught finishing off the goal the second time, and Pacheco’s goal at the post with 6:08 left in the third quarter gave the Blue Raiders a 3-0 lead in a six-minute span.
“We tried to talk about it at halftime because I don’t think they were playing what they were capable of playing,” Jen Crook said. “So, they picked it up a bit. … We were not on our game as well as we had been playing the past few games, but it was good enough to get the win.”
Hingham responded with several promising trips into the attacking end of the field in hopes of a comeback, but Cormier, Maura Kennedy, Meg Costa and Ryan Crook limited scoring opportunities. Hingham still generated six shots on net and four corners in the second half, but Wiley stood tall in net to complete the shutout.
Sammy Price, Kaitlyn Manning, Ryan Hallisey and sophomore Sam McCabe stood out on defense for Hingham outside of the third-quarter scoring spree.
Harbormen head coach Susan Petrie spoke highly of the group after the loss, as 13 seniors graduate after helping lead the program to three straight Final Four appearances and a the state final – all program firsts.
“I had so much fun,” Petrie said. “Every single day. My coaching staff does not get enough credit, they’re amazing. And these teenagers bring so much joy to us and each other. … I lost my dad the week before the season started this year, and being here – he loved field hockey. They’ve been there for me, some of these kids have gone through things. We’re such a family, and they will be for life.”
