By Allison Goldsmith
I&M Sports Editor

Norwood was identified prior to the season as one of the biggest challenges on the Nantucket field hockey fall schedule. The Division I opponent paid a visit to the island Monday afternoon and could not match the speed and offensive pressure of the skilled Division II Whalers’ squad, ultimately falling 3-0. It is the first time Nantucket has ever beaten the Norwood team.

Photo by Jim Powers Emily Pitts challenges a Norwood player for the ball during Monday’s 3-0 win over the visiting Division I Mustangs. Nantucket has opened the season at 5-1 overall and has outscored its opponents 22-3 in six games.

It was the fourth shutout of the season for Nantucket, which improved to 5-1 overall. Through six games the Whalers have allowed only three goals, while scoring 22.

“We are putting twice as many shots on net as any opponent. The goal production is up and it is simply because we are playing so offensively right now,” head coach Lori Moran said.

The weather disrupted the Whalers schedule this weekend as last Friday’s game against West Bridgewater was postponed and rescheduled for Wednesday, too late for this edition of Sports, and Saturday’s tilt with Norwood was rescheduled for Monday.

Next up for the Whalers will be a rematch against Marshfield Sunday morning and then the key revenge match at home against Martha’s Vineyard Tuesday afternoon.

The Vineyarders are the only team to beat the Nantucket field hockey squad so far this season. The Whalers have beat the rival island only once over the last 15 years –a 1-0 home victory in 2005– but they are setting their sights on topping the Vineyard next week.

“Now I think they know they are a good team. They know they can be good if they put 00 percent effort in and if they play as a team, no one can beat them,” Moran said following the big victory over Norwood. “I think we have to look at every game as a win, going in knowing we should beat anyone out there.”

Photo by Jim Powers Field hockey action versus Norwood on Monday afternoon during the first half. Angela Paterson fields the ball.

Against Division I Norwood on Monday, the Whalers had been away from the field since the previous Thursday due to the inclement weekend weather.

“Coming into it, obviously we hadn’t practiced and hadn’t seen each other since Thursday. Walking on the field and trying to get them ready for the game was my biggest point,” Moran said. “This is a team that is at a level that we are used to playing now because of Cohasset and Martha’s Vineyard.”

The Whalers were playing the game without their senior defender and co-captain Rachel Siegel. Midfielder and former defender Riley Fredericks moved to the right back position next to sophomore defender Morgan Tornovish, while Gabi LaFavre and Caroline Stanton split duties at center midfield. The Whalers did not miss a beat.

“They were very relaxed, very confident when I walked on to the field,” Moran said. “They took control right from the get-go. The passing was just superb and very unselfish. Individually they have talent, but together it is just amazing to watch. It is so impressive with their unselfishness.”

Norwood, who is used to playing on a slower field, could not keep up with the fast surface and the speed of the Whalers. The Mustangs managed only one shot on goal in the first half, while the Whalers pummeled the net with nine shots.

“It was all about hustling. We will out hustle any team we play. We might not be better on paper, but we are better conditioned and we will out-hustle anyone out there,” Moran said.

Despite the offensive pressure, the Whalers did not get on the board until 10 minutes remaining in the first half.

Andrea Marelli sent the ball in front of the net, where Kelly Reid deflected the shot into the top left hand corner for the 1-0 lead.

With three and a half minutes remaining, the Whalers got some breathing room when they scored off a designed corner play. The feed went to Marelli on the right wing, who crossed it in the middle where Angela Paterson made the connection to redirect it past the keeper.

The Whalers opened the second half with less intensity than the first half, while the Mustangs came out with a different design.

“They really took it to us in the first seven minutes,” said Moran, who called a time out to get the Whalers back on track.

In the last 23 minutes, Nantucket controlled the game. With two and a half minutes remaining, Halie Ciarmataro dribbled the ball down the right side line, sent a cross pass to Paterson, who found Marelli on the left post for the ensurance goal.

Goalie Casey Kurash made two highlight saves in the final two minutes to preserve the fourth shutout of the season.

“She was into it. She came up with seven saves and not one of them was easy. Every one of them was a quality shot she had to make a big save on,” Moran said.

Lia Newman was solid in midfield for the Whalers, keeping the ball out of the defense an on the forward attack.