THE NRHS field hockey team is off to a 3-0 start with victories over Essex Tech, Triton and Pentucket. (Eric Evans Photo)

 

After press time:
North Reading defeats Manchester-Essex 3-1 (Sept. 11)

 

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

NORTH READING — It has been a good start to the 2024 campaign for the North Reading High field hockey team as they have won their first three games.

On Monday afternoon, the Hornets edged host Pentucket, 2-1 up in West Newbury.

Brooke Keller scored the first goal in a scrum with 4:58 left in the first half.

Senior co-captain, Ellie Moberg, made it 2-0 with 1:42 left in the third quarter scoring in another scrum in from of the Panther net.

Pentucket scored with 51 seconds left in the game but the Hornets were able to run out the clock to preserve the win.

“They gave us a great game,” said Hornets second-year head coach Mikayla Allen. “They helped push us and gave us our toughest run so far.”

Hornet goalie, Thea Panousos, made two saves to go to 3-0 in net.

On Sept. 5, the Hornets rolled over guest Triton, 5-1, in a game they led 2-0 at the half.

“They lost a lot of strong girls from last year,” said Allen, about the Vikings.

It only took the locals 19 seconds to score as Sophia El-Shelkh made it 1-0 assisted by Moberg.

Moberg then scored, unassisted, with 10:55 remaining in the second quarter.

North Reading then closed the door scoring three times in the first 5:04 of the third.

Josie Lambert had the first one assisted by Moberg while freshman Kara Russell had the second one, unassisted.

The fifth goal was scored by Lucia Mini off a corner that was assisted by Alaina Driscoll.

“I was very happy the way we played that quarter,” stated Allen.

Triton avoided the shutout scoring with just over five minutes left in the game.

Panousos turned back three Viking shots in goal.

In the season opener on Sept. 3. the Hornets beat guest Essex Tech by a final of 3-1.

Mini had the fist goal with 6:55 left in the first assisted by Lambert.

Lambert then made it 2-0 with 1:33 left in the first with Moberg assisting.

Senior, Eva Hanegraaff, had the final tally, unassisted, with 2:05 remaining in the third quarter.

Panousos recorded her first-ever varsity win in net with four saves.

“I was very impressed with the way we started,” said Allen. “This game took place the day before school started.”

On Sept. 16, the Hornets visit Rockport with that game starting at 4:30 p.m.