HAMPDEN — Lauren Kaiser converted a pass from Mary-Claire Blanchard with 9:35 remaining in regulation to lift Winthrop to a 1-0 victory over Dexter in the Eastern Class C field hockey final Tuesday.
The No. 2 Ramblers (13-2-2) also survived a late-game scare. Dexter nearly tied the contest with 2:15 to play on a penalty stroke called after a shot hit the foot of Jessica Scott. That shot soared wide and to the left, bringing a sigh of relief from coach Sharon Coulton and the rest of the Ramblers.
“These kids have worked so hard to get here,” Coulton said. “They’ve stayed positive all season, and it was the defense that won this game for us.
“(Goalie) Alyssa (Arsenault) is just a sophomore, but she has really stepped up her game. She hadn’t faced that level of pressure before, yet she didn’t seem rattled and performed well. I’m thrilled with how well we played today.”
Arsenault finished with 10 saves, while Dexter keeper Maicee Gustin turned aside five shots for the top-seeded Tigers (15-2-0).
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