WINCHESTER – If the MIAA Div. 1 field hockey power rankings keep them in the same spots they’re in now, No. 2 Walpole and No. 7 Winchester showed Saturday afternoon their collision course for the state quarterfinals will be a must-watch.

Behind a two-goal burst early in the second quarter and another display of defensive tenacity, the Porkers (16-0) posted a 3-1 win over the Red and Black (12-4) in nonleague action.

Kate Schneider tallied a goal to ensure she’s scored a point in every game this year, and two others scored as part of a three-goal lead by halftime.

Yet, standout positioning, passing and athleticism from Winchester throughout kept Walpole from within reach.

“This showed us a lot of things that we need to work on, which is kind of perfect timing,” said Walpole head coach Jen Quinn. “It very well could have gone the other way. I think they were good, and they had plenty of opportunities. … It was a good matchup.”

Winchester neutralized the Porkers’ exceptional speed early on, spreading out and delivered precise passing to advance. The Red and Black only allowed one shot on goalie Isabella Bogovich (seven saves) in the first quarter, though it was a slow bouncer from Schneider that trickled through a screen for a 1-0 lead.

The Porkers took advantage of that momentum, finally using speed to burst through gaps early in the second quarter to get some activity on Bogovich. Caitlyn Naughton did it first with 12:04 left in the half, intercepting a ball at the 35 and carrying it all the way into the circle for a blast. Just over a minute later, Walpole penetrated the circle again and Caroline Handwerk slammed in the 3-0 lead.

“I don’t think we really used (our speed) to our advantage in the beginning,” Quinn said. “But we had spurts of it where it came into play, and it helped us. I think that really, honestly, is what helped us get those two goals.”

The Red and Black responded, getting their first three shots on Walpole goalie Aideen Smith (four saves) as they dominated the last half of the second quarter. Julia Legere created a wealth of opportunities alongside Ava Paragas, while Sam Gal set up a lot out of the midfield.

That carried into much of the third quarter, as teams did well to trade rushes back and forth. Walpole’s speed flipped the field often, and Winchester’s one-touch passing did the same.

Yet, it seemed every time Winchester broke through the offensive 25, the Walpole defense was there to cut off lanes and limit chances. Sophia Fruci, Grace Hagan, and Nadia Michienzi each delivered big plays to intercept shots before reaching Smith, and the recovery defense was exceptional.

“We were talking all the way through it,” said center-back Kendal Cusack. “We picked each other up throughout the entire game. As soon as someone lost the ball, we were right there to help them out. It was just an ongoing thing.”

Winchester accrued seven corners in the fourth quarter, including five straight near the end, which Gal finally capitalized on to score with seven seconds left.

“We just want to keep it up,” Cusack said. “Hopefully go to the state championship (unbeaten).”