The kids are all right: Sandwich's young stars lead Blue Knights to state semifinal win
CANTON -- For the second consecutive season, the Sandwich High field hockey team will play for the Division 3 state title against Watertown.
This time, though, the Blue Knights are hoping to rewrite history. Sandwich, which lost to Watertown in double overtime in last year's state final, defeated No. 6 Newburyport 1-0 on Wednesday in the state semifinals to book a return trip. The No. 2 Blue Knights (20-0-1) will play the No. 1 Raiders (21-0) on Saturday at Norwell (time TBD).
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They say the left side of the field is the hardest side to play in field hockey. The sticks are all right handed, on defense opposing players come at you on their dominant side, and on offense you're playing across your body.
All that to say, teams aren't putting just anyone on their left sides. It's a position that not only carries a unique physical demand in the sport, but presents mental challenges as well. Naturally, it lends itself to an experienced player, but the Blue Knights opted for a different approach in their Final Four matchup on Wednesday.
"When you're doing a lineup, you try to balance a lot things, experience and inexperience, strength and speed," Sandwich coach Kelsey Beaton said. "In my brain, I was like, 'I'm putting a freshman and an eighth grader back to back,' but it worked."
The two players she's referring to are freshman Quinn Jordan and eighth-grader Sadie Clarkin, and it was no accident that the two were put there. Sandwich lost six seniors off the team that reached last year's title game, and both Clarkin and Jordan have stepped up to be key contributors this season.
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In the Final Four matchup, it was Jordan who seized control of the game for the Blue Knights. Jordan only took up the sport three years ago and after playing varsity as an eighth-grader, has become one of the premier talents in the state, spearing one half of a dynamic duo with senior Emily Souke.
In the second half, Jordan was a constant thorn in the Clippers side, forcing corners and ultimately scoring the game-winning goal.
Souke and Jordan combined yet again in the fourth quarter as Jordan found the back of the net to break the deadlock. The goal came off of a corner, an area of the game the Blue Knights knew they'd have an advantage.
"We have really good corners, and I just felt like I needed to do my job," Jordan said. "If I didn't do that it would've meant the end of my season and I wasn't ready to let go of that yet."
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The Blue Knights have yet to allow a goal in the postseason. When senior goalie Ava Murray was forced to make a save in the second half against the Clippers, it was the first shot she had faced in the tournament.
"Our defense has been really great so far," Murray said. "Our whole team is really great at defense, I think we can all say that. I'm pretty confident in us."
Despite getting the win, Beaton understands that her team wasn't at their best in the game, but also was pleased that her players understood the performance was below their standards.
"That (the first half) was not us," Beaton said. "And I think they know that, and that's a good thing."
The Blue Knights being off their game allowed the Clippers to remain confident in theirs. It wasn't until late in the third quarter that Sandwich began to impose itself. The Blue Knights had a succession of corners to end the third quarter and despite none bearing fruit, they went into the fourth with the momentum.
Jordan, the game-winner, reiterated that the Blue Knights knew that they could've been better. With the game still scoreless after the third, Jordan said her coaches message was simple.
"We were very frantic and scared, you could tell by the way we were playing, especially in the first two quarters, and I think she just wanted us to relax and play our game," Jordan said.
This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Sandwich High field hockey defeats Newburyport in state semifinals
