Lincoln eliminated
Wheeler tops Lions in semifinals
CRANSTON – If you’re the Lincoln High field hockey team, it was the absolute best-case scenario.
Your best player, senior Jennah Saqib, had just made a series of strong moves and now found herself locked in a 1-on-1 duel with Wheeler goalie Wren Hager. If Saqib found the back of the cage, Wednesday night’s Division II semifinal contest would have been tied, with the underdog Lions undoubtedly feeling good about their chances against the top-seeded Warriors.
Instead of finishing with a flourish, Saqib couldn’t get enough on the shot. The attempt ended up sailing wide at 5:45 of the first half.
“Things maybe would have been different,” said LHS head coach Lea Miguel.
Wheeler would go on to tack on two additional goals in a 3-1 victory that secured a spot in Sunday’s D-II title game against either North Kingstown or Lincoln School. Warriors junior Anne Clyne paced the victors with two goals and one assist while senior Cloe Cazzani scored once. Saqib netted the lone goal for the Lions, which came after Lincoln found itself in a three-goal hole.
The Lions (8-10-1) opened the game as the more dominant team, spending several minutes in Wheeler’s half of the field. Once the Warriors (15-3) established possession in Lincoln’s end, their powerful offense took over. Cazzani carried the play down low and finished with a flourish to give her team a 1-0 lead with just over seven minutes gone by.
Things remained relatively quiet until Saqib found herself with a golden opportunity. For someone who’s been the key component in Lincoln’s attack this season, it seemed a foregone conclusion that she was going to strike again.
“She’s been a tremendous leader on and off the field and a kid with tremendous skill,” said Miguel. “She also had so many opportunities to make up for the one [that would have made the proceedings at Cranston Stadium much more interesting].
“Obviously, it’s disheartening, but the girls were still pretty positive. We hung with them the last time we played them,” said Miguel, referring to Wheeler beating Lincoln 2-1 in overtime back on Oct. 7. “We knew it was possible to score on them.”
Clyne struck with 1:40 left
before halftime, as the ball appeared to bounce off someone else before crossing the white line. The unassisted tally pinned Lincoln in a 2-0 hole heading into the second half.
At 18:20 of the second half, Clyne fired a one-timer from 10 yards out that eluded Lincoln goalie Edessa Shabo. Wheeler ended up outshooting Lincoln, 8-7.
“They have five ers,” said Miguel.
Lincoln got one back after sophomore Grace Miguel unleashed a shot from 30 yards out that Hager initially made a play on, but Saqib was right there to pounce on the rebound.
“Our goal was to at least get to this round if not further,” said Miguel. “I told the kids that it’s not the outcome we wanted, but to know we were right there with them is very encouraging.”
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