Farmington Tops Conard Field Hockey 2-1
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Conard's Josie Goslee battles for the ball. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
The Farmington River Hawks score a goal in each half to beat Conard girls field hockey 2-1 in a showdown between the number 11 and number 12 teams in Class L.
Sports reporting is sponsored by Keating Agency Insurance
By Paul Palmer
The loss drops the Red Wolves to 9-5-0 with just two games remaining in the regular season. It is also the first two game losing streak of the season for the team.
Gigi Smith works past a pair of Farmington defenders. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
“I was disappointed in how we played,” said Conard head coach Sara Witmer. “ This was not a version of us that I’d seen before.”
Things started out well for the host Red Wolves when Berkeley Hess earned her team a corner. The initial try by Conard was stopped but Josie Goslee squared a pass across the mouth of the goal that teammate Izzie Hathorn knocked in for the 1-0 lead just over two minutes into the contest.
Izzie Hathorn pokes in the Conard first half goal against Farmington. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
Merritt Harton nearly earned Conard a second goal but her ball across goal line was knocked away by a diving Evie Kaliney in the River Hawks goal.
Despite being down a goal, Farmington had the better of play late in the first quarter and carried the momentum into the second period and half. Just over 2 minutes into the second quarter, they took advantage of a mishit clear at midfield and set off on a 2-on-1 break. Senior goalie Isa Ripepi came off her line and laid out full to block the shot and maintain the 1-0 lead.
The pressure on goal paid off for the visitors with 8:19 to go in the third. Avery Ranucci somehow found space between Ripepi and the near post to even the score on a shot that the Conard goalie would like to have back again. Later in the second, Ripepi would again be called upon to make a big save to keep the game tied at 1.
Isa Ripepi of Conard makes the save late in the game against Farmington. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
Sophia Cos nearly gave Farmington the lead six minutes into the third when she managed to split a pair of Conard defenders and race onto an open ball. Once again it was Ripepi coming and laying out to make the stop. Cos would get her revenge just over 2 minutes later when she was left unmarked in front of the Red Wolves’ goal and banged in a ball sent across from the right side.
Sophia Cos celebrates what would be the game winner against Conard. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
Juliana Tolk controls the ball for Conard. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
“It was a tough game mentally and our energy level was off,” said Witmer. “The players are going to have to decide if they are going to do what we do in practice. They have the skills and now they have to use them.”
Conard had a half dozen penalty corners in the fourth but could not find the equalizer. It was a combination of shots going just wide or being turned away by Kaliney in goal for Farmington.
Lizzie Kalosieh (17) of Farmington uses the sideline to defend against Conard’s Katie O’Keefe (44). Photo credit: Paul Palmer
“I am happy they (Conard) hung in there,” Witmer said. “You have to find a takeaway win or lose, and there are a lot of areas we need to get consistent in. We have to realize that we can beat or lose to anybody in any game.”
Conard players wore their pink uniforms to support breast cancer awareness on Oct. 19, 2026. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
GAME NOTES:
Monday’s game was Pink Out Night for Conard. The players wore pink uniforms and raised money through donations and a bake sale going towards breast cancer research and treatment.
The team is back in action Wednesday when it meets 6-4-0-3 Pomperaug before hosting 8-3-2 Hall in the regular season finale on Tuesday, Oct. 27.
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