Hockey defeats Spartans

The two referees conferred for a moment and then the announcement came, goal! The team stormed the field and the crowd went wild, ending a remarkable field hockey senior night victory.
“It was amazing,” said senior defensemen Annie Weiser. “It was so rewarding to play so hard as a team and come out with a victory.”
Heading into the Wed. Oct. 15 game, the West Springfield Spartans were the heavy favorite with an impressive 10-2 record.
But the Atoms weren’t concerned with the records coming into the game and were solely focused on playing their hearts out and executing what they practiced. The results showed, as they pulled off the stunning 2-1 overtime upset.
“It was absolutely awesome, the seniors definitely led the way and the team really earned an exciting and hard-fought victory,” said head coach Cindy Hook.
One senior that made a tremendous impact was forward Tanya Bellingham, who scored both of the Atoms’ goals. Her first goal came on a penalty stroke, where she beat the goalie with a solid shot to the right side of the goal. That goal tied the game at one early in the second half and the game remained deadlocked for the final 27 minutes of regulation.
 In overtime, the teams were reduced to playing seven on seven, instead of the normal 11 on 11. This rule is made to speed up the game. The game got very intense, with pressure mounting as the clocked ticked down. Each team had their chances, but with four and a half minutes left in overtime, Bellingham ended the game with her second goal of the night on the rebound of a missed shot.
The referees, however, did not call the game immediately, but they discussed it for a few moments and finally signaled the victory for the Atoms.
A key to the game had to be the impressive teamwork the Atoms showed. It was obviously noticed by their coach who was “impressed with the tremendous teamwork and intensity.” Hook added that “they really played well together with great support all over the field.”
 Weiser also noticed the chemistry, saying how it was obvious that they “really connected as a team and showed they wanted the win.”
 Prior to the start of the game, the seven seniors on the team were recognized by walking out to the middle of the field with their family while a mini-biography was read aloud. Along with Bellingham and Weiser, seniors Meredith Rutherford, Laura Simpson, Amy Steinbuechler, Amy Stevens and Marisa Tordella were recognized in the pre-game ceremony.
 The team is expected to continue to work hard in their remaining games, a tournament at Albemarle, followed by the district tournament. This shouldn’t be too hard however because as Weiser notes, “everyone loves this feeling [of winning] and doesn’t want to give it up.”
 Coach Hook couldn’t agree more and added, “Everyone is playing their best hockey at just the right time, having great fun together, and looking forward to success in the district tournament.”