Field hockey’s Senior Night win secures undefeated DCL record
The team closed out its regular season on the road against the Needham Rockets on October 24.
The Acton-Carlisle field hockey team closed out its regular season on the road against the Needham Rockets, who posted a 3-1 win on October 24. This wasn’t a league match, so the outcome left intact the Patriots’ undefeated record in Dual County League play.
Team record: Overall 9-4-5; Dual County League 6-0-2
Big game: Co-captain Brynn Chaffee scored the Patriots’ lone goal — her second in two consecutive days. Goalie Lexie Ramirez and the defensive line were under intense pressure all night but made Needham work hard for its goals (one coming very late), in line with their quiet but dauntless work all season.
Unsung heroes: The junior varsity and freshman squads played their last games of a stellar season. The JV, under Coach Jordan Bolio and Assistant Coach and Goalie Coach Bob Little, ended at 14-1-2 overall. The freshman team, under Coach Marianna Chiodo, ended at 10-1-1 overall. The JV scored 51 goals on the season, giving up only 10; the freshmen scored 77 total goals, ceding only six. The JV defense shut out its opponents nine times, and the freshmen did so a remarkable 10 times in just 12 games.
Up next: The varsity moves on to the playoffs.
CCHS 3, Weston 1
The Patriots celebrated their seniors (co-captains Kaia Triola and Chaffee; Sophia Arif, Maddie Clancy, Nadia Minkin, and Lilly Woodman) on Senior Night, October 23, with a 3-1 win over the Weston Wildcats.
Big game: Abby Ruhmann, Scarlett Mirak, and Chaffee scored the three goals. Arif and Woodman threatened repeatedly.
Turning point: Ramirez foiled a third-quarter breakaway.
Unsung hero: Ally Couto stepped into the midfield confidently, and she and Triola generated constant offensive pressure. Holding the defensive fort were Clancy, Minkin, and Zoë Bonzagni.
CCHS 1, Acton-Boxborough 1
The Pats tied tough DCL rival Acton-Boxborough on October 21 for the second time this season on a comeback goal by Ruhmann.
Big game: Ruhmann’s goal was a rocket, off a precise corner insert by Chaffee. Ramirez preserved the tie with a kick-save in the final moments.
Unsung heroes: The whole squad was dynamic, showing playoff-level intensity and teamwork.
