Just prefer it had finished after every of its 5 video games prior, the surging Durfee area hockey workforce attentively listened to move coach Nicki Henrique break down its Sept. 24 matchup.
Only this time, with particular friends in attendance, some gamers obtained a bit antsy towards the tip of it.
From simply six miles throughout the south coast, some gamers on Joseph Case obtained the uncommon alternative on a Saturday to take a look at a Hilltoppers sport. The risiing program didn’t have a sport or follow on the similar time prefer it usually does, so the few spent their free time trying out Durfee’s 3-0 win over New Bedford.
As members of one of many state’s few remaining unbeaten groups, there’s a lot they’ll accomplish this season. But they weren’t there, on the weekend, to scout for their very own profit. They have been cheering for a few of their good mates donning a special uniform.
Postgame, Durfee didn’t need to solely have fun with teammates.
“I was literally still talking to them,” Henrique mentioned. “They go, ‘Coach, can we go say hi now?’ … It’s really cute, they’re really supportive of each other.”
To name Case and Durfee sister applications could be a little bit of a stretch, contemplating they nonetheless scrimmage one another and will very nicely meet within the common season sometime. But with out the identical convention or division, and with the numerous ties between them, the 2 are as shut because it involves the phrase.
It begins with their coaches, who’ve constructed the sort of relationship that doesn’t go a single sport with out texting or calling each other about what went down. Case head coach Kacie Martel and Henrique have recognized one another lengthy earlier than Martel took over her program eight years in the past, as the 2 performed in an grownup membership league collectively. But via years and plenty of dinners of venting to one another over powerful losses, rehearsing follow concepts, giving scouting experiences on groups they each play and training collectively on the Bay State Games, the 2 have constructed a detailed bond.
Henrique particularly has a rooting curiosity within the Cardinals and its gamers as a coach for the softball program, in addition to via graduating from Case herself.
“She’s just kind of been my go-to,” Martel mentioned. “We bounce ideas off each other, or we’ll vent to each other, things like that. It’s grown into this great relationship. … We’re definitely always rooting for each other. We always try to scrimmage each other, support each other.”
“We always just kind of fed off each other,” Henrique added. “As a coach, you internalize losses and ties, and, ‘What could I have done better?’ She was great for that – just vent, talk. … It’s funny to hear us talk because we don’t talk about anything else literally the entire time. We never invite our significant others to dinner because they probably wouldn’t want to be there.”
The gamers have adopted go well with.
It may very well be pinpointed to their coaches. It may very well be pinpointed to rising up in the identical space, taking part in membership and leisure sports activities collectively. It may very well be that Case goalie Anna Michaud began just about each certainly one of Durfee’s summer time league video games because the Hilltoppers’ goalie handled sickness, and that served as a bridge for extra interplay.
No matter which angle, fairly a number of of the gamers are shut.
“Some of the girls on my team, they’ve been asking me all season, ‘When are we going to support (Michaud) and Case,’” Henrique mentioned. “Our kids love each other. We scrimmage each other. … It’s just really competitive and fun, and it’s been so great to have that with them.”
It’s solely becoming then that when Case has its finest begin ever underneath Martel, Durfee does the identical for Henrique in her tenth yr on the helm.
Looking to repeat as South Coast Conference Gold champions for a 3rd straight yr, the Cardinals are 10-0 with critical competition within the Div. 4 area. Lexi Yost, Megan Smith and Shelby Hajder lead a potent assault averaging over 5 targets per sport, whereas Michaud and senior defenders Kaelyn Lecomte and Rylie MacDonald have led six shutouts. Only one participant has graduated from an skilled group over the past two seasons, and the most recent MIAA energy rankings replicate Case’s scorching begin by pinning it at No. 5 on Friday.
“We are running with pretty much the same squad for three years,” Martel mentioned. “As long as we don’t get ahead of ourselves … our hope is obviously to keep winning.”
With a brand new stage of depth and drive, Durfee has likelihood to make some noise in Div. 1, too.
After narrowly lacking out on the Southeast Conference crown final yr, the Hilltoppers have already got the sting on Dartmouth with a 9-1-2 document. Competing for the state title will get cloudy with powers Andover, Walpole and Franklin within the fold, however there’s no short-changing simply how good Durfee has been this season. The protection is ultra-strong behind junior heart again Emily Curran, Brooke Macedo and Paitynn Botelho, and the offense is beginning to click on into gear via Toni Freitas and Shakira Cadet.
“This is definitely the strongest start we’ve had,” Henrique mentioned. “They’re loving it. … That fire and that drive we have is just different.”
Rapid Fire
• After solely successful two video games final yr, Hopkinton is amidst a giant bounce-back yr with a 5-2-3 document. Three hat methods from star Camille Perlov has been a serious enhance, particularly whereas driving a six-game unbeaten streak.
• An enormous, Cape Ann League tilt this upcoming Tuesday carries even a bit extra weight with Lynnfield internet hosting Ipswich in its annual Play 4 The Cure sport. Both lately checked in throughout the high 10 within the newest Div. 4 MIAA energy rankings, hopefully drawing a big crowd with 100% of the proceeds donated to the National Foundation for Cancer Research. Last yr drew over $2,200. Game begins at 6 p.m.
• Despite graduating a big class, Sandwich is again in place for a second run on the Div. 3 title. Its 5-1 win over Nauset on Friday has it at 9-0 regardless of a difficult schedule.
Source: www.bostonherald.com