Published October 24, 2019
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NEWBURYPORT — For the first time since 2015, the North Reading High field hockey team will be going to the state tournament.
The Hornets punched their ticket on Tuesday night as they tied host Newburyport 2-2.
With that result, the Hornets’ record went to 8-7-2 overall and 7-7-1 in the Cape Ann League with one game left to play.
After a scoreless opening half, the Clippers scored first with 23:30 left in the game. Morgan Majeski then tied it with her sister, Mary and Emma Lord both assisting with 16:18 remaining.
The Clippers then scored again just a little over a minute later causing Hornets head coach Andrea Slaven to call time out to settle her squad.
North Reading then responded as Ava Czarnota tied it again on a penalty stroke with 11:18 left to round out the scoring.
When the final horn went off, the Hornets celebrated knowing what was at stake.
“It was very emotional and it felt like a win considering the circumstances,” said Slaven.
Rees Lord had the play of the game as she made a defensive save with a little over two minutes left to keep the game tied.
Hornets goalie Emma Borland made 11 saves to go to 8-7-2 in net.
The day before, the Hornets won at Malden 5-1 in a non-league game. With that victory, the Hornets were able to complete the season sweep over the Golden Tornadoes.
“We came into that game with a lot of confidence,” said Slaven, whose team led 3-0 at halftime.
Paige Thibedeau led the Hornet attack with two goals while Jeny Collins had a goal and two assists. Morgan Majeski had one goal and one assist while Czarnota had the other Hornet tally.
Borland had an easy day in net as she had two saves.
Last Friday afternoon, North Reading lost 3-0 at Masconomet. The Chieftains, who are in first place in the CAL Kinney division, finished at 1-0-1 against the Hornets this fall.
“They scored once on a penalty shot and once off a corner,” pointed out Slaven as Masco led 2-0 at the break.
Borland made seven stops in that game.
On Oct. 17, the Hornets won, 5-2, at Rockport.
North Reading led 2-1 at the half as they outscored the Vikings 3-1 in the second half.
Thibedeau scored twice again while single goals were scored by Lord, Morgan Majeski and Makenna Lamont.
Borland made four saves in that game.
The Hornets wrap up the regular season on Thursday as they host Pentucket at 3:45 p.m. The Sachems won the first meeting 3-1 in the season opener on Sept. 5.
The seedings for the Division 2 North state tournament will come out on Oct. 28.