West Hartford’s Hall High School field hockey team, which started the week ranked No. 8, came up short Monday evening.

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The Hall defense clears the ball from in front of its own cage. Hall vs. Glastonbury field hockey. Sept. 14, 2026. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

By Paul Palmer

Glastonbury used a pair of first quarter goals and a stingy defense for four quarters as the Guardians topped Hall 3-1 in a field hockey showdown on Monday. The game was played at Conard High School as the Hall stadium remains closed as a new running surface is put in place.

The visitors had the upper hand early on and went out in front when Julia Kelly got behind the Titans defense and took a pass from the right wing and beat goalie Lily Mitchell 8:30 into the first. Glastonbury had more opportunities in the next two minutes with shots at goal, but could not score. Sophia Sardo would score the next goal in the four-minute mark as her bouncing shot alluded Mitchell to make it a 2-0 lead.

Hall’s Lucia Viggiano works to cut off Hailey Strauss of Glastonbury. Hall vs. Glastonbury field hockey. Sept. 14, 2026. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

The Titans regrouped between periods and looked like a different team in the second quarter. The defensive backline of Lucia Viggiano, Abigail Pesce, and Ava Leahy were more organized, stepped up to break up passes, and kept the ball out of danger.

“Our intensity and energy picked up after the first quarter,” said Hall head coach Ellie Tate. “At the other end, the offense put together some better opportunities, and used four penalty corners to get some shots on goal, but could not beat Glastonbury goalie Sarah Walker.

Glastonbury goalie Sarah Walker sprawls to cover the net against Hall. Hall vs. Glastonbury field hockey. Sept. 14, 2026. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

The home team continued their better play as the second half got underway. Three minutes in Viggiano had the best chance of the game for Hall off another penalty corner. Her shot into traffic led to a scramble in front of Walker and her goal, with the goalie blocking at least one shot before the defense cleared the ball.

Hall kept up the pressure over the opening nine minutes but just could not put the ball away. Glastonbury responded and turned the tables with six minutes remaining in the quarter, but Mitchell had a good kick save and was also there to clear away some passing chances near her cage. With 4:04 left in the third the pressure paid off as Ashlynn Bengston scored from a scramble in front of the Hall goal to make it 3-0.

Jane Hennessey of Hall moves the ball forward against Glastonbury. Hall vs. Glastonbury field hockey. Sept. 14, 2026. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

Early pressure by Hall forced Walker to come up big on two chances and the two sides had opportunities but no one could score until Erin Cattelan score for Hall with 3:59 left in the game. The goal came off a nice pass that found the senior forward close in on the left side of the goal.

Despite the efforts over the last four minutes, Hall could not manage another goal and fell 3-1. Cattelan’s goal was the first allowed by Glastonbury this season after they shut out Farmington and Northwest Catholic.

Hall players fight for the ball in front of the Glastonbury goal. Hall vs. Glastonbury field hockey. Sept. 14, 2026. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

After scoring a dozen in the season opener with South Windsor, the Titans have been held to just one goal in each of their two losses. “We have to want the ball more,” Tate said. “We have goal scorers and we were knocking on the door today.”

Abigail Pesce (4) and Julia Kelly (12) in late game action. Hall vs. Glastonbury field hockey. Sept. 14, 2026. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

The loss dropped Hall to 1-2 and saw the Titans fall from eighth to 17th place in Class L. Hall plays Longmeadow (MA) on Wednesday and then Enfield on Friday, and Tate said that with each game, her team will get better.

“As we start meshing there are some great games ahead for us. We hung with them (Glastonbury) better than in the past few years and that lets us know we can play to that level,” she added. “We just need to be getting that ball in the back of the net.”

Emily Stein (11) and Anna Markowitz battle for possession. Hall vs. Glastonbury field hockey. Sept. 14, 2026. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

Simone Davidson (20) follows through. Hall vs. Glastonbury field hockey. Sept. 14, 2026. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

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