Concord-Carlisle girls break through
Jacqui Turner doesn’t quite remember the specifics of her games playing against Concord-Carlisle while a member of legendary coach Mae Shoemaker’s Acton-Boxboro team, back before she graduated in 2004. What she does remember, though, is never losing to the Patriots team she now coaches.
FIELD HOCKEY NOTEBOOK
That’s what any Colonial or Concord-Carlisle player would remember over the last 22 years, too. Playing each other at least once per year, the Patriots never won – not in the regular season, not in the playoffs. Within a crowded and strong Dual County League, Acton-Boxboro had their number.
But this season is different for Concord-Carlisle.
The No. 5 Patriots ended the winless stretch that dates to 1998 with a 2-0 victory against the Colonials on Sept. 17, helping fuel a 10-1-1 season entering Saturday that the MIAA Div. 1 power rankings deemed worthy of the No. 2 seed in the latest update. This is far from the first promising start that Concord-Carlisle has seen over the last 22 years, but for senior captains Emma Tonies and Grace Waldeck, this year has a special feel after finally getting over the hump against the perennial contender.
“It was an example of what we’re capable of,” Tonies said. “That’s the standard we need to compare ourselves to every time we play. That’s the potential we know we have, so it was really special for us to see that.”
“The win against A-B was super exciting,” Waldeck added. “I think it definitely was a product of how well we’ve worked together, and a lot of what we’ve been building toward.”
It’s not so much surprising as it is just unexpected that Concord-Carlisle has done so well this year.
The 2020 group that won the DCL tournament in 7-versus-7 play graduated seven seniors, leaving a team that Turner thought was the one that would lift the Patriots beyond the first round of the playoffs for just the second time since 2003. A younger group came in, leaving Waldeck and Tonies with the responsibilities of their strong leaders before them.
So far, with wins over quality opponents in A-B, Lincoln-Sudbury and Chelmsford, and a tie with Holliston, the group is passing with flying colors. Friday’s 5-4 loss to Wellesley was its first defeat, boasting seven shutouts and nine games with at least three scores. Despite losing seven seniors while playing in such a tough league, Concord-Carlisle is rolling.
“I think we have a really great team dynamic and you can see it on the field,” Waldeck said. “Just to see how they’ve grown as players and people is really rewarding.”
“We have a lot of natural team chemistry, which is not something that you’re always fortunate enough to have,” Tonies added. “It’s this natural chemistry that we were able to build off of that we were able to progress with and grow and develop. I think we’re really lucky to have that.”
There’s still a long road to go, as Concord-Carlisle still matches up with Acton-Boxboro (8-2-2) on Oct. 24. The two are still undefeated in DCL play with the first matchup technically slated as a non-league affair, and they could very well match up in the DCL tournament, too. Not to mention Lincoln-Sudbury, which is 5-1 in league play itself.
Still, the path Concord-Carlisle is on is encouraging, and one of its other major strengths is its ability to take the season one game at a time. That path isn’t lost on Turner, who uses a lot of what her former coaches taught her.
“The girls have worked really hard to be together as one unit,” Turner said. “They’re amazing. They really are. … I’m very excited that our girls have really stepped up.”
One of those former coaches is happy to see Turner succeed as the DCL heats up.
“It’s really fun to see her bring that team to its full potential,” Shoemaker said. “It’ll be interesting (to see how everything finishes).”
Quick Spotlights
■ This has turned into a special season for Pentucket, starting off the year 12-1 for the first time in program history. What makes it more special is the challenge that Triton (10-1-2) presents it in what should prove to be an action-packed matchup on Monday, as the two squads fight for the top position in the Cape Ann League Kinney division. The only loss the Sachems have is a 1-0 bout against the Vikings thus far, so this finish could have historic implications.
■ As Durfee rolls out a team boosted by young difference-makers, freshman Kathryn Gauvin and sophomore Emily Curran have played large roles to guide a 7-3-3 record entering Friday. It tied Dartmouth on Wednesday to try to keep pace with the undefeated Indians (11-0-2) in the Southeastern Conference. Senior Emma Tetrault and sophomore Samantha Souza lead Dartmouth as it ranks No. 10 in Div. 2, while Durfee is No. 25 in Div. 1, and New Bedford (6-4-2) is No. 28 out of the SEC as well.
■ All-Scholastic star Caroline DiGiovanni leads the Cape and Islands League Atlantic with 24 goals, helping Monomoy (9-2-1) remain a hair behind Sandwich (10-1-1) for the league title. Sarah Currey has 10 shutouts for Sandwich while Paige Hawkins entered Friday with 20 points amid the undefeated stretch. That race extends to Falmouth (8-1-4), which just handed Sandwich its first loss on Friday. Nauset, Dennis-Yarmouth and Barnstable all round out a loaded league, as every team but Barnstable ranks in the top 10 of their divisions’ power ratings. Monomoy and Sandwich are each No. 1.
■ Maggie Sturgis has cracked the 30-goal threshold as part of an incredible season for Masconomet, which ranked No. 2 in the Div. 2 power rankings each of the last two weeks. Danvers (11-2-1, 10-1-1 Northeastern Conference) still creeps right around the corner in the NEC, trailing the Chieftains
(12-0-1, 10-0) by a miniscule mark. The two play each other again on October 20. Meanwhile, Swampscott is giving its best shot with a tie against Danvers as part of a 9-4-2, 8-2-2 (NEC) record.