Hall field hockey beat Daniel Hand 2-0 on Saturday in West Hartford.

Hall goalie Allie O’Connell had 19 saves. Hall vs. Hand field hockey. Oct. 1, 2022. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

By Paul Palmer

Relying on a strong defense anchored  by goalie Addie O’Connell, and goal scoring from Ellie Goldstein, the Hall Titans field hockey team improved to 5-2 on the season with a shutout of Daniel Hand High School. In their five wins on the season, the Titans have allowed just four goals, while scoring 13.

Saturday, it was the Tigers who got off to the fast start on the turf at Chalmers Stadium. Although controlling much of the play, the visitors were unable to penetrate a stout Hall defense and when they did get a shot, O’Connell was there for the stop. Hall had three corners in the first quarter but could not convert them into goals.

Hall leading scorer Ellie Goldstein was tightly marked all game but used her speed and stick handling skills to get some early chances. Hand nearly scored with just 8 seconds left in the first, but O’Connell came out strongly from her crease and slid with the pads stacked to take away the opportunity.

Kathleen Culmo defends for Hall. Hall vs. Hand field hockey. Oct. 1, 2022. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

In the second it was more of the same, as the Hall defense bent but did not break. O’Connell made a good low pad save on a hard shot, and later defender Kathleen Culmo broke up a potential 2-on-1 attack with a strong back check. The Titans withstood the Hand attack and turned up their offense with just under 2 minutes to play in the half.

Goldstein scored the game’s first goal with just 33 seconds to play, giving the hosts the 1-0 lead . “We didn’t have many shots on net,” said Hall coach Jenna Behan. “But Ellie has such natural talent.”

Hand came out firing in the third quarter and once again was in control of the flow. O’Connell and her defense were tested time and time again but kept the ball out of the net. O’Connell shined on a big save off a Tigers’ corner, and then again when standing her ground and taking a shot square off the pads, pushing the rebound out of harm’s way. O’Connell played her usual aggressive style, sacrificing her body to get to the ball.

“She goes for the ball at 100%,” said Behan of her senior goalie.

Goldstein and the offense made the most of their chances just under 3 minutes into the third. The junior picked up the ball on the far side of the box, dribbled across to the center of the net, and fired home her second of the game. It was the payoff to a lot of patience and hustle by Goldstein and the offense that often found their runs thwarted. “She [Goldstein] moves on to the next ball and that’s what makes her so good,” Behan said of her goal scorer.

Caitlin Striff-Cave (16) of Hall heads of a Hand attacker. Hall vs. Hand field hockey. Oct. 1, 2022. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

Hall also got a strong game from junior midfielder Grace Ganey. Her strong stick skills on defense won multiple balls, and her transition game from defense to offense helped get the Titans out of trouble on numerous occasions. “Grace has honed her stick skills and her field vision,” said Behan.

All of the Hall midfielders and defenders were strong, closing down the Tigers’ chances and on the occasions a shot got through, O’Connell was there.

In the game’s final 12 minutes, Hand threw everything into the offense and nearly beat the Hall defense for a goal. Defenders Dawson Biondi, Culmo, and Molly McHugh worked in tandem with O’Connell and the midfielders especially on the multiple corners awarded to Hand. In particular, O’Connell made two long clearances by kicking the ball out of danger, and had several stacked pad saves, none better than her stop on Kelly Kilbourn from five yards out as the clock wound under 2 minutes.

The formula has been the same for Hall most of the year: play hard defense and work to get the ball to Goldstein for chances on goal. On Saturday, Behan thought her squad reached a new level. “This is the best we have played all season as a team,” she said.

The Titans play their next two games on the road, first at Lewis Mills on Monday and then at Northwest Catholic on Friday.

Clare Sweeney defends for Hall in its 2-0 win. Hall vs. Hand field hockey. Oct. 1, 2022. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

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