(West Newbury) The slow start didn’t bother Pentucket.
“We seem to start slow regularly and then get rolling,” explained Pentucket coach Angela Palmer afterwards.
Rolling is what they did. Down 2-0 to non-league Haverhill, Pentucket responded with eleven straight goals to gain separation.
The final score was 15-6.
A Senior Day celebration followed the Pentucket win.
Senior Lana Mickelson (Iona commit) showed that she can score (four goals) and that she can set up teammates (six assists).
“Pentucket played well together,” said Haverhill coach Erik Perkins post-game. “There was lots of team ball with cuts. Our girls had trouble picking up on it.”
“Lana never seems to run out of energy,” said Coach Palmer. “She is an excellent passer. We tell the team that assists are just as many points as goals are.”
Pentucket had thirteen assists on the fifteen goals they scored.
Sophomore Alex Bushey got the Hillies (7-7) off to a great start with two goals in the opening 2 ½ minutes.
Lana had a hand in the Pentucket response reaching the scoresheet on six of the next seven goals. Two were her own while on the other four she set up teammates Ella Palmer, Kate Conover, Cat Colvin, and Sydney Trout.
Pentucket (8-4) led 11-3 at the half.
Kate Conover and Sarah Graninger boosted the Pentucket advantage to 13-3 five minutes into the second half.
Plenty of substituting followed.
“The weather could have been a factor in how we played,” said Coach Perkins. “Pentucket wanted it more today.”
The two teams will meet again in a week at Haverhill.
“We have four games left and a chance to win a conference (Merrimack Valley Conference) championship,” said Coach Perkins. “We also want to get a tournament bid. Haverhill is currently ranked #33 in Division 1 in the MIAA Power Rankings.
Pentucket is ranked #7 in Division 3.
Pentucket has now won four straight games. They had one-goal losses to both Ipswich and Manchester-Essex before the win-streak.
Haverhill’s 2-14 record last year may not seem like much, but it was the most wins they have had since 2016. That’s why this season with seven wins and counting is very special to the Hillies.
This was the first Pipestave game for me. Getting to-and-from the field was more exercise than I’ve had in a while!
Pentucket 11 4 = 15
Haverhill 3 3 = 6
Goal scorers:
Pentucket – Lana Michelson (4), Kate Conover (3), Cat Colvin (3), Sarah Graninger (2), Audrey Conover (1), Ella Palmer (1), Sydney Trout (1).
Haverhill – Alex Bushey (3), Sophia Riley (1), Cailey Simard (1), Katrina Savvas (1).
Pentucket’s Lana Mickelson had six assists and Kate Conover had five assists. Ella Palmer and Cat Colvin had one assist each.
Coach Palmer: “We worked hard in practice leading up to this game. We worked on slides and shooting under pressure. I think it paid off today.”
McClelland Miscellanea 