Windham field hockey opens title defense with shutout of Souhegan

WINDHAM – The Windham High School field hockey team wanted to show the rest of Division II to know the Jaguars will be doing whatever it takes in their attempt to successfully defending their division title.

In Tuesday’s season opener against Souhegan, Windham did just that, scoring three times in the final 20 minutes of the first half of a 5-0 win.

Justine Levesque led the way for the Jaguars (1-0), scoring three goals, including the first two for Windham, while Abigail Lagos stopped five shots to get the shutout in her first varsity start in goal.

“We know we have a target on our back as the defending champs and everyone wants a piece of Windham,” Jaguars coach Amanda Ward said. “We told them to just go out there and absolutely play their best and not to let down. Send a message that we’re not just walking out here, assuming that we’re going to be able to make it to the championship, we have to do hard work. I think a 5-0 score certainly says that, especially against a solid Souhegan team.”

The game didn’t start that way, as the Sabers (0-1) came out with energy and controlled play for the first part of the first half. Souhegan had a couple of opportunities off corners early, but Windham was able to thwart each attempt to keep the game scoreless.

“Windham is a very smart team,” Souhegan coach Kelli Warecki said. “They watch and they know how to execute and they do. We have some responsibility for falling flat after the start, because we did come out strong, we controlled play. But to Windham’s credit, they are a smart, thorough team.”

Kate Heaney recorded 11 saves for the Sabers as Windham controlled the last 20-plus minutes of the first half. The Jaguars finished the game with 16 corners, all but one of which came in the first half.

Levesque scored off a corner to give Windham a 1-0 lead with 19:49 to go until halftime. It was the Jaguars third opportunity in under three minutes, as Levesque was able to chip the ball into the far corner.

Windham took a 2-0 lead 11 minutes later, when Levesque put a shot into the far corner again, just out of the reach of Heaney.

“I’m very happy to see her score that hat trick, it was definitely well-deserved,” Ward said of Levesque. “She impressed with me her attitude and how she made that happen. She was talking on the field and making passes happen.”

Rachel Rogers (assist) added another goal for Windham with 5:41 left before halftime to make it 3-0. In the second half, Souhegan had opportunities to score, as the Sabers had six corners, but were unable to register a shot on any.

“We tend to dribble a little too far ahead sometimes,” Warecki said. “We get a little too excited, the ball gets off our stick and we can’t make a play on it because it’s too far out of our reach. We just need a little more control in the circle, which I think will come from playing together more.”

Levesque picked up her third goal with 5:21 to play and Courtney Sweeney (assist) scored less than two minutes to make it 5-0.

Windham returns to action on Thursday, when it travels to St. Thomas, while Souhegan will host Hollis Brookline on Friday.