WORCESTER — Emma Flynn scored in overtime as Walpole defeated Longmeadow, 3-2, at WPI on Saturday for its first Division 1 field hockey state title since 2013.
The title game was a rematch of three years ago.
“Flynn’s been there on those clutch plays,” said Walpole coach Marianne Murphy. “Emma’s scored a lot on that left post for us. She stayed there and pushed it in instead of one-timing it.”
In OT, Melanie Weber drew two defenders and found Flynn in front of the net.
“I was kind of ready for it,” Flynn said. “But it was surreal when it went in.”
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The early momentum belonged to Walpole, as junior Celia Walsh tapped in a goal at the side of the post off Walpole’s fifth corner.
Despite 10 first-half corners, Walpole couldn’t extend its lead, and senior Taylor Low fed junior Kyra Ashe, who tied the score, 1-1.
A minute and a half later, Longmeadow had its first corner of the game.
Low found senior Claire Fitzpatrick, who got a stick on the ball and sent it past Walpole goalie Audrey Lynch.
In the second half,
senior Abigail O’Sullivan found the back of the net with 5:38 to go to tie the score.
A back-and-forth game ended with Weber finding Flynn for the winner.
“I said, don’t take this moment for granted,” Murphy said. “They worked hard to get here, and it’s not easy.”