Bowerfind scores lone goal in Clipper win

CUMBERLAND– The Cumberland field hockey team earned its second win of the season on Wednesday night in a 1-0 shutout over South Kingstown in a Division II matchup.

“Our defense played phenomenally,” Cumberland coach Jacki Lapointe said. “We got a little sloppy out there at times. There are things we need to work on.”

Cumberland came into Wednesday night’s home game on the Tucker Field turf with a 1-3 record. They were shut out on the road in their first two games against undefeated Wheeler (5-0) and Lincoln (1-4) then won 7-0 over then winless Chariho. Cumberland lost their last time out, 5-0, against the Lincoln School (4-0) on Monday.

For SK, who had two heat cancellations and one rainout, it was only their third game of the season and their second loss.

The lone goal came just after the second half began, with junior forward Jenna Bowerfind splitting the defense with an assist by freshman forward Sara DeSousa.

“The one goal that did go in,” SK head coach Margaret McGregor said. “It was a well-executed play, from the outside to the inside where there was a player moving onto the ball and scored it.”

It was Bowerfind’s second goal on the year, and DeSousa has three assists to go with one goal. There were a few other opportunities in a game where possession switched back and forth frequently, and there was some early trouble at keeping the ball in bounds, with the ball-handlers getting squeezed to the edges.

Senior goalkeeper Laura Dion stopped two shots, behind a Clipper defense that made it hard for the Rebels to get good shots even when they found some space.

Lapointe said they’re working on the offense, and it’s coming along after struggling against some of the top teams right out of the gate.

“The weather hasn’t helped,” Lapointe said. “We can’t practice with the rain. They’re working on it, and they’re working hard. We’ll be okay.”