The red hot Westport field hockey team has won three in a row, beating Seekonk 2-0, Southeastern 5-0 and Fairhaven 7-0 to boost their overall record to 9-2 and 5-1 in the MAC. The Wildcats who play a fierce forechecking style of offense, have amassed 41 goals this season and let up just 10 goals defensively. 

“The team has been passing well, cutting, communicating and working as a team,” said Wildcats’ head coach Jacqueline Legendre. “We are getting better every day.You can just see the confidence in them, continue to grow.”

Senior captain Avery Avila continues to lead the team with her ferocious play on the field. The striker leads the team in scoring with 15 goals. She scored 1 at Seekonk on Friday 10/6, 2 at home against Southeastern on Tuesday and 2 more at home against Fairhaven on Friday. The slight sinewy, lightning fast forward isn’t afraid to mix it up with the larger defenders and often beats them to the ball. 

“Avery is doing a great job,” said Coach Legendre. “She is very consistent. Her stick is always down. She makes great moves inside and works the ball well.”

Forwards Bella Babb, a freshman, Maddy Melnyk, an eighth grader and Kaylin Pacheco a junior also have been putting the ball in the back of the goal. Babb has 7 goals for the season. She scored a goal in each of the Seekonk and Southeastern wins and scored 2 more against FairHaven. Melnyk also has 7 for the season and Pacheco scored 6 goals thus far.  

Defense getting in on the fun

Coach Legendre has been letting her defensemen get in on the scoring as well. After getting big leads against Southeastern and Fairhaven, she let some of her upper classmen get in on the action. Senior right back Colleen Smith scored the first goal of her career against Southeastern on Tuesday. She leapt into the air after blasting a shot into the back of the net and then celebrated with teammates and junior center back Emma Bessette scored a goal against Fairhaven. 

“It’s my first goal in varsity ever. I was so excited. I jumped on Avery,” said an elated Smith after Tuesday’s win. “I would have been fine never scoring a goal. It’s what you do as a defender. You step out of the spotlight of scoring the goals to make sure that the goals don’t go in.”  

Defensively the Wildcats have posted 7 shutouts this season. 

Bessette, Smith, Molly Costa at left back, Jada Thurston at sweeper, Miranda Perry and Hannah Abrams at goal keeper have been good when needed. And perhaps the biggest part of the Wildcats’ transition game is freshman central midfielder Makayla Grace, who has the skill, speed and ability to roam all over the field, snuffing out attacks, dribbling the ball up field and distributing passes to the offense. 

“Makayla is really standing out this season,” said Coach Legendre. “She is very comfortable in her role and she has just shined. She is a key component and the team really depends on her. They view her as a leader. She is humble, she’s kind, she’s helpful and she’s always giving 100 percent.”

Grace, who scored two goals earlier in the season, is consistent and has a strong hit according to Coach Legendre. 

“Makayla is always creating scoring opportunities. She might not get the glory of scoring the goals, but she always has a hand in them.”

Next up: 

The Wildcats travel to Case High School on Thursday at 3:45 p.m.