Defenders, sophomore Lauren Durfer (in front) and junior Casey Ferriter hustle back to their defensive end stride for stride.
As the Devils and the Brownies walked onto the field on Tuesday, the temperature was in the 90's and both teams were feeling the heat. The Brownies came off the draw strong and after a series of passing around the eight, the perfect cut was made and the Brownies take the first goal of the game. Minutes later Northampton's Erin King came off the draw strong to put in a goal for Northampton. Shortly after, a goal by Northampton's Julia Sullivan with an assist by Bridget Keefe put Hamp ahead. As things began to heat up in the first half, Agawam takes their first three goal lead of the game by scoring three goals within four minutes. Although discouraged, Hamp was not going to concede the game easily.
Junior Briget Keefe seems unruffled by the raging Agawam defender close on her tail as she puts one of her second half goals into the net.
The battle raged for control of the game in the final minutes of the first half. King was able to add another goal to the score board but was soon answered by two goals from the Brownies. The clock was running out but King and Elisa Pasche both add one for the Devils. The Brownies answer once more but the Devils weren't done scoring for the half. Both Erin and Emily King both put past another goal tying the half time score at 7-7.
Senior Jenny Long came up with nine saves for the game, but the second half seven goal run was too much for the team to handle.
Both teams were feeling the pressure as they walked back onto the field after the half. The game was tied and it could go either way. Northampton took possession off the draw to take the lead in the first minutes of the second half. The Brownies felt the threat but not for long as they answered with three goals of their own. Northampton pushes back, keeping themselves in the game with one goal by Sullivan off an eight-meter. The Brownies took control of the game in the middle of the half making the score 10-16. In the final few minutes the Devils made a final attempt. Final score 12-17.