The Westbrook field hockey team went on the road to face off with Old Saybrook on Oct. 9 and won a hard-fought contest by the score of 1-0.

On a windy and overcast afternoon, the two Shoreline Conference foes played stifling defense that wouldn’t allow either offense to get into rhythm. It wasn’t until there was 14:54 to go in the game that Westbrook broke through. After advancing the ball down field, junior captain Zoe Ehlert separated from the pack and found freshman Avery Bauman in space for the strike. Bauman wound up and slapped the ball past Old Saybrook’s keeper, Jill Murphy, for what turned out to be the game-winning goal.

“In practice, we’ve been working on tipping drills,” Ehlert said. “And today the situation came up and I hit it just like we do in the drills and, luckily, Avery was there to tip it in like we always practice.”

The first half ended in a scoreless tie as the teams pressured one another, but couldn’t find the net due to some staunch defense and solid goalie play by Murphy and Westbrook’s Caytlin Passera.

In the second half, the defensive struggle continued and there was a sense the game would turn on a single play for either team.

“I think we were a little tentative at first and not as hard to ball as I like to see them go,” Westbrook Coach Janet Dickey said. “At halftime, we talked to them and explained that I wanted them to go harder for the ball and to get back to passing, play give-and-go around the defense. I think we needed a little more communication out there and I think they did that in the second half.”

The Knights scrapped hard and made the game-changing play to take home the victory on Ehlert’s goal, but not without a fight from the Rams. Using a keen defensive strategy, Coach Dickey pulled back some players to protect the net. Old Saybrook Coach Kara Bell countered by bringing up more scorers, yet the Knights were prepared when the Rams went on the offensive. Sophomore goalie Passera (10 saves) made several terrific saves by using her body, stick, and feet to knock the ball out of the box. After Passera’s stops, the Knights’ extra defenders pounced quickly and were there to clear the ball out of the zone. Their ability to react and not allow any ricochets or second-chance opportunities for the Rams was vital to thwarting the attacks. One of the key members called upon to stop Old Saybrook’s advances was junior captain and center midfielder Alexa Smith.

“We started off a little shaky, but in the second half, we were more aggressive and came out and did what we know how to do,” said Smith. “We have a very young team and we’re still learning and getting used to playing with each other, but we’re so proud of our freshman who have really stepped up to the challenge.”

Old Saybrook made one last desperate push when senior Paige Gumkowski revved up and fired a rocket from 15 yards out that was a hair to the right. The shot slammed against the side of the goalie box and time ran out.

“This was the second time we played them [the Rams lost 2-0 earlier in the season] and I felt like we challenged them more on offense this game,” said Coach Bell of Old Saybrook. “They made a really skilled play on their goal and it was a great deflection and shot. I felt like we did a lot of really good things, but just couldn’t break through. Aubery [Efinger] and Paige [Gumkowski] put a lot of pressure on the goalie and Natasha [Tarbell] really did a great job in the midfield by helping on defense and offense transitioning the ball. We did our best and it was a 60-minute game, so I’m proud of the way we played.”

Old Saybrook outshot the Knights 10-4 and Murphy had three saves in four chances for the Rams. With the loss, Old Saybrook dropped to 2-7 on the year and 1-6 in the conference. Westbrook improved to 3-5-0-1 overall and 3-2 in the Shoreline. The Knights need six points to qualify for the State Tournament with seven games to play on the season.

To say Westbrook has a very young team is an understatement. With only 14 players on the roster, the Knights field a team with no seniors, five juniors, two sophomores, and seven freshmen who all play important minutes. To be winning games with such an inexperienced group is a credit to their junior captains, Elhart and Smith; the upper class athletes; and Coach Dickey, who has her team winning games in a tough Shoreline Conference.

“We start five freshman, zero seniors, and goalie Caytlin is doing a wonderful job for her first year in pads.” Coach Dickey said. “Zoe and Alexa have really stepped up to help relax things out there for us and we’re learning and practicing and the kids are playing very hard.”

Earlier in the week on Oct. 7, Westbrook traveled to Canton and lost a close contest, 2-0.

Then on Oct. 10 at home, the Knights faced off in a non-league game against New Fairfield and both teams battled hard as the game went scoreless in regulation. In overtime, New Fairfield scored to win it 1-0. Westbrook had 10 shots on goal and Passera finished with six saves in the game.

“We had our chances and missed some opportunities,” Coach Dickey said. “Even though we lost, we still gained a point with the loss in overtime.”

Before Old Saybrook faced Westbrook, the Rams took a 3-0 loss to powerhouse Haddam-Killingworth on Oct. 7. The Rams played tough and kept HK scoreless for the first 25 minutes until Brinley Anderson broke through off a pass from Hannah Theriault. Late in the first half, Theriault scored and then added another in the second half to make it 3-0. Murphy did all she could to keep the Rams in the game by stopping 12 of the 15 shots that came her way. Unfortunately, Old Saybrook couldn’t muster any offense on the day as it was outshot 15-1.

From the Sidelines

Coach Janet Dickey is in season No. 26 as the field hockey coach of Westbrook.

Knights’ starting goalie Caytlin Passera is a sophomore and is in her first year playing field hockey.