The Wildcats tied Case, 2-2, during the team’s senior game on Monday afternoon. Senior forward Raurie Laliberte and sophomore midfielder Avery Avila scored for the Wildcats as their team record moves to 6-4-4. 

“The team really showed up,” said Wildcats head coach Jacquelyn Legendre. “The girls played their hearts out for the seniors. It was an overall team effort today.”

The tie clinched a playoff birth for the Wildcats. The team may be playing in the preliminary round as early as Wednesday. 

“We really wanted states,” said Coach Legendre. “The season has been a lot of up and downs, but the team is all on the same page at this point. The seniors have made it to states every single year since seventh grade. It was really important that we got the job done.” 

Before the game the team celebrated their five seniors, goalkeeper Lily Gifford, midfielder Kyra Ferreira, midfielder Megan Leuvelink, defender Sarah Carney and forward Raurie Laliberte. 

Laliberte put the Wildcats on the scoreboard first, slipping a shot past Case goalkeeper Anna Michaud for a 1-0 Westport lead in the first quarter. 

“The girls were hyped up from the senior celebration,” Coach Legendre said. “There was a cluster in front of the net. Raurie got her stick on the ball and slipped it into the back of the net.”

Case tied the score 1-1 in the second quarter on a goal by sophomore Megan Smith. She beat Wildcats senior goalkeeper Lily Gifford on a reverse shot. “She’s extremely fast,” said Coach Legendre of Smith. “She reverse slipped it into the net. Lily didn’t expect her to shoot it.”

Gifford made 11 saves and kept the team in the game. “Lily is a skilled and agile goalkeeper. She plays club field hockey and ice hockey and it has attributed to her ability,” said Coach Legendre. “She’s been phenomenal. It’s going to be a huge loss next year, not having her.”

Case scores in the third quarter 

In the third quarter Case scored to make the score 2-1. A Case defender blasted the ball through the Wildcats defense. The ball skipped over freshman defender, Colleen Smith’s stick and created a one on one situation for Gifford. Case sophomore forward Kaelyn Lecomte motored by the defender and went in alone on Gifford, who came out of the goal to try to retrieve the ball. The padded up Gifford was no match for the speedy Lecomte who beat her to the ball and slammed a shot by the net minder into the empty net for a Case 2-1 lead.

“That was a tough situation,” Coach Legendre said. “It’s really hard to judge. Unfortunately it didn’t go her way.”

Laliberte made a big save for the Wildcats and kept the score 2-1 in the third quarter. Gifford came out of the net to field the ball on a corner, but Smith whacked it by the goalkeeper. To her surprise, Laliberte was there in goal and made the save with her stick. She pushed the ball out of danger and the Wildcats stormed back upfield. 

“Raurie is a big presence on our offense and defense,” said Coach Legendre. “She made a great defensive save today. She goes wherever we need her too.”

Wildcats tie the score 2-2

The Wildcats tied the score 2-2, in the fourth quarter, on a goal by sophomore Avery Avila. 

Wildcats senior defender Sarah Carney blasted a free hit from outside the circle and the ball made it all the way through to Michaud in goal. Seniors Kyra Ferreira and Megan Leuvelink pounced on the rebound and hacked at the ball in an attempt to score. Michaud fell to the ground on top the ball. The forwards smelling blood, dug with their sticks in an attempt to dislodge the ball. Seconds ticked by and the referee stopped play and called a penalty on Michaud, awarding the Wildcats with a penalty stroke.

“The ball was under her pads,” said Coach Legendre explaining the rule. “If the ball is hidden and unplayable for three or four seconds, then it’s a penalty stroke.”

Coach Legendre had Avila take the stroke and she promptly wristed the ball by Michaud from the hash in front of the goal. The Wildcats standing on the midfield line cheered as Westport tied the score 2-2.

“That was our first one of the season. It was exciting,” Coach Legendre said. “ I was a little nervous about it, because we haven’t practiced (penalty strokes) in a while, but Avery is an all star field hockey player, I knew she could get it done and she did.” 

Notes: 

Playoff game

The Wildcats tied Sturgis, 1-1 and lost to Bishop Stang, 4-0 in their last two games of the season. The team will play a preliminary playoff game later this week. 

Next season

Freshman Hannah Abrams has been getting up to speed in goal. She has backed up Gifford this season and is waiting in the wings to step in next season. “This is her first year playing field hockey and goalkeeper. She has stepped in and is getting comfortable and enjoying it,” said Coach Legendre. 

Senior play 

Sarah Carney played a great defensive game,” said Coach Legendre. She is a very consistent player. She hustles and always plays her best. She is a role model player. 

Kyra Ferreira also played well at midfield. We moved her up to forward to get some offensive pressure and it helped us.” Especially with the Wildcats second goal. 

Coach Legendre also moved Megan Leuvelink up to forward. 

“She did a great job carrying the ball up the field. She had some nice possession opportunities in the second half,” she said.