Published October 31, 2019

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

NORTH READING — On Oct. 24, the North Reading High field hockey team beat visiting Pentucket 2-0 in their final match of the regular season on a sunny, warm day. That win gave the Hornets a final regular-season record of 9-7-2 overall and 8-7-1 in the Cape Ann League as they were able to get the spilt of the season series against the Sachems who won the season opener 3-1 back on Sept. 5.

CAPTAIN Jeny Collins clears the ball away from the Hornet net during NR’s 2-0 win over Pentucket on Oct. 24. Also pictured are Hornet defenders who helped contribute to the shutout: Rees Lord (10), Julia DiNapoli (21) and Maggie Majeski (20). (John Friberg Photo)

“It was a great way to end the regular season,” said Hornets head coach Andrea Slaven. “It shows how much we have improved since that opening-day game.”

The Hornets first goal came with 1:30 left in the first half as Paige Thibedeau scored on a rebound of a shot by Morgan Majeski.

With just over 20 minutes left in the second half, Majeski’s sister, Mary, scored the other goal unassisted.

Hornets goalie Emma Borland made three saves to go to 9-7-2 in net as she recorded her fifth shutout of the fall.

North Reading finished in sixth place in the CAL Kinney Division as all six schools finished at least .500 in league play.

On Thursday, Oct. 31, the Hornets travel to Gloucester for the first round of the Division 2 North state tournament with that game starting at 4 p.m.. It is the first playoff appearance for the team since the 2015 season.

 

2019 MIAA DIV. 2 NORTH FIELD HOCKEY BRACKET

 

North Reading is the 11th-seed while the Fishermen, a team out of the Northeastern Conference, is the No. 6 seed. Gloucester enters the game with a record of 11-3-2.

“They have one-big time scorer (Mia Salah) that we plan to double team,” said Slaven, as Salah is the school’s all-time scoring leader.

If the Hornets can pull off the upset, they would take on the winner of the Danvers-Newburyport match in the quarterfinal round (date and time unknown at press time).