Cougars taking on all comers
Beat Walpole to improve to 6-0
HINGHAM — Given the daunting slate of opponents Notre Dame Academy (Hingham) scheduled in lacrosse this year, you would think that there would be some early struggles for the program.
SCHOOLS
Yet every single time the Cougars have been met with any form of hardship, they have found a way to pass the test, and that has been largely due to the play of a standout by the name of Jane Hilsabeck.
On Wednesday, the sophomore turned in her latest highlight-reel performance, burying five goals as NDA (6-0) staved off a late rally for a crucial 11-8 victory over Walpole.
“We really pushed ourselves,” said Hilsabeck. “It was a really tough game, really physical. But I’m glad that we were able to come out on top and keep our composure.”
After Walpole seized an early 2-1 edge off goals by Jess Tosone and Brigid Welch, NDA responded with five unanswered goals. Hilsabeck tallied a hat trick in the first half alone as the Cougars took a 7-4 lead into the break.
“It was a battle for 50 minutes, like we expected it to be,” said NDA coach Meredith Frank McGinnis. “Walpole is incredibly aggressive. They’re very well-coached. They’re very disciplined. We didn’t expect it to not be a game until the last whistle, and it was a game until the last whistle. I thought we were able to make a few more plays down at the end that made the difference. But we also gave them a couple of chances as well.”
Hilsabeck recorded her fourth goal of the afternoon with 17:57 remaining in regulation. However, that was precisely when Walpole began to stage its comeback.
The Timberwolves proceeded to score three consecutive times, two coming off the stick of Maggie Mahoney, as Walpole trimmed the deficit as close as 9-8 with 10:18 to go.
But the Timberwolves ultimately fell short in their pursuit. Hilsabeck sniped her fifth and final goal with 4:14 remaining to make it 10-8 before Siobhan Colin fired a shot into an open net to put the game on ice with 11 seconds left.
In addition to Mahoney’s performance, Caroline Whelan added a pair of goals for Walpole.
The gauntlet better known as the Cougars’ schedule doesn’t exactly get any easier to navigate. As it attempts to keep its unblemished record intact, NDA will face King Philip on Saturday, before battling Chelmsford on Monday. Then, the Cougars will host one of the state’s best next Thursday, defending Div. 1 champion Westwood.
“It was really close,” Hilsabeck chuckled. “It was really nerve-wracking. But I feel like, again, we were able to keep our composure. We were able to have a nice, settled attack and make stops on defense.”
Baseball
In the Greater Boston League, Kyle Durant fired five innings, allowing no earned runs while striking out nine as Lynn Classical (7-1) coasted to an 8-2 victory over Somerville.
In a Middlesex League tilt, senior Zach Zimmerman tossed a complete game, allowing two runs while striking out eight, as Arlington (4-2) erupted for a 16-2 rout of Belmont in six innings.
Tyler Cattoggio and Kevin Doyle each tallied a pair of hits and drove in two runs to help Bridgewater-Raynham to a 10-0 win over Southeast Conference foe New Bedford.
Joe Zamejtis struck out 16 and allowed two hits as Danvers (5-2) defeated Masconomet 8-0 in the Northeastern Conference.
Softball
Morgan Barmash batted a perfect 4-for-4 with a pair of homers, aiding her 11-strikeout shutout over five innings as Woburn (6-1) downed Winchester 15-0 in Middlesex League play.
Kayley Rossi went 3-for-4 at the plate with a triple as Everett defeated Revere 15-2 in Greater Boston League action.
Amber Goudreau earned the win on the mound for Masconomet (5-1), punching out 11 hitters in a 12-0 win over Northeastern Conference opponent Swampscott.
In a nonleague showdown, Haley Coupal went 3-for-4 with a homer and four RBI for Bishop Feehan in a 7-5 win over Attleboro. … Catie Powderly
(3-for-4) belted a home run, pairing with Susie McAdams (3-for-4) to lift Walpole past Franklin, 6-3. … Riley Caulfield (4-for-4) and Frankie Pizzarella (2-for-4) each homered to combine for five RBI as Millis topped Nantucket 11-3. … Alyx Rossi struck out 17 batters and batted 4-for-5 at the plate to help Austin Prep to a 17-3 win over Northbridge . ... Alyssa Edwards batted 3-for-3 with a homer, triple, double and three RBI for Stoughton (6-2) in an 8-3 win over Norwood
Sam Perkins blasted a pair of home runs and Sam Ryan punched out 11 batters from the circle as Tewksbury beat Chelmsford 6-2 in the Merrimack Valley Conference.
Faith Boutin allowed just one run in a complete-game effort, boosting Tri-County to a 6-1 win over Mayflower League opponent Old Colony.