WOODBURY – Lakeview field hockey player Rowan Kinsella told head coach Ashley LaBonte she didn’t want to take a penalty stroke in Tuesday’s Berkshire League tournament final because she was nervous.
After a confidence boost from LaBonte, Kinsella converted a retaken stroke to give Lakeview the lead in the shootout. Goalie Kylie Reynolds forced Nonnewaug’s final attempt wide to clinch Lakeview’s first Berkshire League tournament championship in program history, 2-1 on penalty strokes after a 1-1 tie through two overtimes.
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“What’s funny is Rowan didn’t even want to do it,” LaBonte said. “She was so nervous going into it. I was like, ‘Yes, you can do this. I have faith in you,’ and then she had to redo it. The girl that didn’t want to do it at all had to redo it for a second time. The fact that she was the one that put us ahead was huge for her.”
“I honestly just blacked out, to be honest,” Kinsella said. The referee called back Kinsella’s first attempt because of goalie interference, forcing her to retake the stroke. “I went up, and I looked up and shot it and it was in the goal. I’m so happy we won and I’m so proud of this entire team.”
Reynolds, too, felt the nerves.
“As a goalie, I have never seen a shootout before, so I was very nervous coming into it,” Reynolds said. “Nonnewaug’s a very strong team, but I was ready.”
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Lakeview opened in fall 2024, following the merger of Litchfield Public Schools and Region 6 to form Region 20
Nonnewaug (13-2-3), the defending champion and No. 1 seed, advanced to the final with a 1-0 win over No. 4 Watertown last Thursday. Lakeview (12-5-1), the No. 2 seed, advanced with a 2-1 win over No. 3 Shepaug.
Nonnewaug struck first with 5:28 left in the first quarter. Catherine Viveros scored off an assist from Lila Farrelly, giving the Chiefs a 1-0 lead. Lakeview couldn’t convert its chances before halftime.
Scozzafava made 23 saves in two regular-season shutouts against Lakeview. Before Tuesday, no Berkshire League opponent had scored against her.
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Lakeview finally broke through with 12:50 left in the third quarter. Christina Barone fought for the ball and scored to tie the game 1-1.
“Our goal in this game was truly to score once because we knew [Scozzafava] had not had a goal scored against her from a Berkshire League team,” LaBonte said. “Once we got that one, we were fired up, and these girls have worked so hard, have come together as a team, and it was a true team effort today.”
Lakeview pressed in the fourth quarter but couldn’t take the lead. Neither team scored in the first 10-minute overtime. Barone had two chances in the second overtime, but Scozzafava saved one and the other went wide. The teams went to penalty strokes.
Viveros scored for Nonnewaug in the shootout, while Brooke Hurlburt and Kinsella converted for Lakeview.
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Reynolds finished with 19 saves for Lakeview. Scozzafava had 22 saves for Nonnewaug.
In the regular season, Nonnewaug and Lakeview tied 0-0 in their first matchup Sept. 11 before Nonnewaug won 4-0 on Oct. 1.
Lakeview will begin the Class S tournament Tuesday, Nov. 10, as the No. 7 seed. The Bobcats will host No. 10 Stonington at 3:30 p.m.
The Chiefs will enter the Class M tournament as the No. 8 seed and host No. 9 E.O. Smith in the first round Tuesday at 2 p.m.
Player of the Game
Rowan Kinsella, Lakeview: Scored Lakeview’s go-ahead penalty stroke and helped the Bobcats win their first Berkshire League tournament championship.
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Quotable
“What’s funny is Rowan didn’t even want to do it. She was so nervous going into it. I was like, ‘Yes, you can do this. I have faith in you,’ and then she had to redo it. The girl that didn’t want to do it at all had to redo it for a second time. The fact that she was the one that put us ahead was huge for her.” – Lakeview head coach Ashley LaBonte.
Lakeview 1, Nonnewaug 1 (Lakeview wins 2-1 on penalty strokes)
LAKEVIEW 0 0 1 0 0 0-1
NONNEWAUG 1 0 0 0 0 0-1
Goals: Lakeview – Christina Barone; Nonnewaug – Catherine Viveros.
Assists: Nonnewaug – Lila Farrelly.
Saves: Nonnewaug – Fiona Scozzafava 22; Lakeview – Kylie Reynolds 19, Piper Reliham 1.
Penalty strokes: Lakeview – Brooke Hurlburt, Rowan Kinsella; Nonnewaug – Catherine Viveros.
Records: Lakeview 12-5-1; Nonnewaug 13-2-3.
This article originally published at Lakeview field hockey wins first Berkshire League tournament title on penalty strokes.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
