The Dartmouth High field hockey team is aiming for a deep run in the Div. 1 South playoffs after securing advancement with a 3-2 win over Norwood on November 2.

The game was Dartmouth’s from the very beginning, as a hyped up team put its first goal in by Sophia Sousa three minutes into the game. Maintaining the ball deep in Norwood territory for much of the first half gave Hailey Camire the opportunity to score an additional two goals in under ten minutes of play.

“I did not think we were going to score that fast that early in the game, because that’s not usually how it happens, especially during a playoff game when there are some really good teams we play,” Camire said.

She kept pressure on Norwood’s goalie to put in her first goal, and took advantage of a tiny opening between the goalie and the net to slip another goal past Norwood.

With a 3-0 lead at halftime, the game began to slip away from the Indians as a reenergized Norwood emerged and put a point on the board five minutes into the second half. From that point, Dartmouth struggled offensively, and had to fight off several close attempts at Mustang goals.

“A different team showed up on the field in the second half,” said Head Coach Beth Arguin. “They were fighting for their lives at that point. They turned around the momentum a bit, and put a little scare in me and the kids.”

Norwood secured a second goal with 14 minutes left on the clock, but couldn’t tie the game or take the lead, leading to Dartmouth’s 3-2 win.

Arguin said issues began as substitutions were made, and felt the Indians had become too comfortable with what they may have thought would be an easy game.

“We’ve got five seniors on the team and they know that this is the end of their season, and I’ve got a lot of hungry juniors that want to possibly make it next year too,” Arguin said. “I feel like they have that drive, but they also just got a little too comfortable.”

The win was the first postseason game for Camire. The junior has been on the varsity team since her freshman year, but knew most of her teammates from her years playing in the Dartmouth Girls Athletic League’s field hockey program in her middle school years.

“I’ve been playing with these girls since like, the fifth or sixth grade,” Camire said. “We have a lot of chemistry together and we play really well together.”

At a late night practice session on November 1, she and other teammates spent time getting their minds in sync to the challenge of postseason competition.

“It’s a really big game, but you just have to play your game,” Camire said.

The 13th-seeded Indians will take on fourth-seeded Canton on November 4 at Canton High in the second round of tournament play.