Defense strong, but goals scarce for playoff-bound field hockey team

Story and photos by Richard W Dionne Jr
Posted 10/31/18

The Westport field hockey team defense looked playoff ready as the team played Case to a 0-0 tie on Friday. Head Coach Michelle Duarte wasn’t so sure about the offense.

“The goals just …

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Defense strong, but goals scarce for playoff-bound field hockey team

Posted

The Westport field hockey team defense looked playoff ready as the team played Case to a 0-0 tie on Friday. Head Coach Michelle Duarte wasn’t so sure about the offense.

“The goals just weren’t dropping, said coach Duarte. “We are saving the goals for state tournament.”

“As far as I’m concerned we dominated the net,” she said. “They are just not dropping for us yet.”

“We are still a young team,” coach Duarte said. “The girls do get a little emotional up there as they’re at the mouth of the net. They need to keep their composure and stay focused. It’s coming. It is coming.”

Defensively the team dominated Case. The Wildcats didn’t even allow a shot on goal in the second half.

“Our defense is really what’s keeping us alive, said coach Duarte. “In my opinion our defense is why we have so many ties.”

“Many of our ties are 0-0. That means our goalkeeper and defense are doing their job.”

But as far as the offense goes, “We are getting the shots on goal. They are just not dropping yet,” said coach Duarte. “That’s going to be the next thing. We are going to see those ties turn to wins.”

Coach Duarte switched her co-captain and sophomore center defender Maddy Avilla to offense against Case. Along with left wing Brianna Quinlan and right wing Julia Hurley the Cats mustered several good scoring opportunities, but just couldn’t finish them off.

“Maddy’s a great forward,” said coach Duarte. “She’s got the speed. She’s got the tenacity that she needs to get in there,” she said.

“She’s aggressive and as long as my defense can hold their own, I’ll keep her up there.”

Will she use Avilla at center during the playoffs?

“Maddy is my center defender,” said coach Duarte. I’m going to play it by ear.”

“Our defense has always been strong, said Maddy Avilla. “I think that coach was nervous to move me up. She has had this lineup for so long. Changing it is a big risk,” she said.

“We have some younger girls in there and the younger they are the less experience they have on defense, but I think they played awesome today.”

Sophomore co-captain Jess Carney is a dominant defender at right back for the Wildcats.

“She was all over the place today. She is super aggressive. She is consistent and always in the game.”

Coach Duarte used freshman Kyra Ferreira in place of Avilla at center defender against Case.

“This is the first time that coach used her there. I think that it worked out well. She’s a real strong player,” said Avilla.

Avilla likes to play forward but said where she plays is up to coach Duarte.

“I really enjoy playing offense, Avilla said. “But it doesn’t matter where I play. I’m willing to sacrifice whether I like a position or not to benefit the team.”

 “I think that it may have helped in a sense, of course we didn’t score, but we were up in their zone for most of the game. We passed well and there was a bit of a push up there,” she said.

Coach Duarte feels that it’s only a matter of time before the Wildcats begin to score in bunches.

“It’s like going to the well,” she said. “Every time you go to the well, eventually your going to get it in.”

“This is a strong team and they are going to continue to be a strong team. I’m not graduating anybody. So they are going to get stronger and faster and more aggressive and continue to get better,” the coach added.

 

 

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A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.