Field hockey celebrates five seniors

By Taylor Kimmell Sports Editor The Framingham State Rams fell 7-2 to the Westfield State Owls in a home conference matchup Oct. 10. This loss drops the team’s conference record to 2-4 and their overall record to 5-9, ranking them fourth of the conference's six teams. Action started slowly in the first quarter. The first shot of the match came from Westfield at 2:15, and it was blocked. This resulted in a corner for the Owls, but the Rams were able to clear the ball before another shot could be fired off. It took another 5 minutes before WSU could break through for another shot, but it was saved by Rams’ senior Allison Harmuth, as was their next shot a little over a minute later. Eleven minutes in, Westfield attempted to score again, but sophomore goaltender Aubrey Jenkins saved the shot. The Rams went on an offensive drive during the final 15 seconds of the quarter, earning a corner that yielded three shots by Captain Finley Hogan, a junior, the third of which found the back of the net for the first goal of the match. The Owls were quick to match FSU’s pace, scoring to tie the game in the first 3 minutes of the second quarter. FSU managed to bring the ball down the field for Hogan to send a shot toward the net, but the Owls made a defensive save. WSU earned a penalty corner 10 minutes into the quarter, firing off two shots that were saved by Jenkins, and a third that was not. Westfield found the back of the net again just over 2 minutes later, and the second quarter ended with a score of 3-1, putting the Rams at a deficit. The Owls maintained steady pressure on the Rams' net during the third quarter, with two corners and three shots in the first 3 minutes. Hogan attempted to score 4 minutes in, but her shot was wide. The following 2 minutes saw three more shots and two more corners from WSU before Rams’ sophomore Chloe Moynihan broke through the Owls’ defense for two shots, both missing the net. Junior Amanda Stackpole also attempted to score, but her shot was blocked. Westfield regained control on offense, earning two corners and four shots, the last of which made it by Jenkins. In the final quarter, the Owls increased their lead significantly. Freshman Sydney Walters scored for the Rams 7 minutes into the final quarter, but Westfield continued to fire off shots, finding the back of the net less than 2 minutes later. At 56:32, Moynihan tried to score another goal for FSU, but her shot was blocked. In the final 1:30 of the match, Westfield scored twice more. The Rams were unable to overcome WSU’s significant lead, and the match ended 7-2 in favor of the Owls. Harmuth said, “Westfield is always a really hard team to play. I think in my collegiate career, we've only beat them a few times. “I think moving forward, we need to recognize our mental game is just as important as our physical game, and we really want to get our focus right before, during, and after the game,” she added. Overshadowing the unfavorable results of the match was the celebratory ceremony preceding the first quarter, during which the field hockey program recognized its five graduating seniors - Marina Cadena, Maddie Bailey, Jillian Meeker, Ashley Malmquist, and Harmouth. Senior Jillian Meeker said her favorite senior day tradition is the tailgate after the game. “I love how we get to celebrate the seniors with our family and friends! “It means a lot for me to have the support. I have given my all to this team for the last four years, so to be celebrated by the people I love most is a great feeling,” she added. Harmuth said, “My favorite part of the senior day traditions is the time we spend in the locker room before the game. … As an underclassman, I loved celebrating the seniors. And as a senior this year, I loved just seeing everyone being so happy - happy tears and celebrating us, and being in such a kind and cute environment.” Harmuth said having her family and friends there to celebrate with her was “really special. You put in a lot of work as a student athlete for four years, and then to see it all afterwards. … You've played in senior games, and you've witnessed senior games, but obviously this is your first one, so it just says it made me really think introspectively,” she added. She said, “It's just nice to have that celebration. And having my family support - my family comes from far away - so that was really special too.” Harmuth said she has always hoped to leave a kind impact on the team. “When I was a freshman, I had a senior who was really kind to me, and I always looked up to her. I always wanted to be like her. She was the nicest person ever, and so inclusive to everybody. “She never made a huge impact on the field, and she never got recognized as player of the week or anything, but she truly was the star senior in my eyes because of her character and how kind she was, and that's how I always wanted to be when I left Framingham.” Meeker said, “I think the impact I would hope to leave is to always have fun. There were times in these last four years where it got rough, but I don’t let it bring me down, and I always bring the fun and energy, so I hope to pass that down to the younger members of the team!” On Oct. 13, FSU defeated the Fitchburg State Falcons 3-2, improving their conference record to 3-4 and their overall record to 6-9. Framingham will travel to Salem State University for a conference matchup against the Vikings Oct. 17. Meeker said, “My personal goal is definitely just to enjoy my final days on the team. I have truly loved being a part of this team for the last four years, so I hope to really end with a bang. As for the team, I would love to see a MASCAC championship win in my time here.” Harmuth said her goal this season is to “finish strong and have a lot of fun. Get as many wins as we can before the end of the season. I think we all want the wins really bad and I'm sure we'll get there.