Despite having lost to Nazareth 3-1 on Senior Night, the Northampton field hockey team came away from the contest believing that if the two teams met again in the postseason, they would be able to reverse the result.

After all, the K-Kids had dominated possession and generated twice as many corners, 18 to 9, as the Blue Eagles in the contest.

The Kids were matched against Nazareth as their quarterfinal opponent in the District XI AAA playoffs, but a few key Northampton injuries and a swap of home field advantage helped to propel the Blue Eagles to a 4-1 win and a semifinal berth against Parkland.

The K-Kids survived the first half, trailing only 1-0 at the intermission despite Nazareth earning 13 corners and a penalty stroke. The lone goal was by the Eagles’ Noelle Sack at 10:35 of the first quarter on a long shot on a Nazareth corner.

Kayla Philipovich and Natalie Mihalko within 90 seconds of each other about 5 minutes into the second half to turn the Kids’ hopes of a comeback into a pipe dream.

Madi Williamson scored the 35th and final goal of her record-setting junior season with 5:06 left in the third period for Northampton’s big highlight of the night.

Philipovich notched her second goal of the game early in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring.

“Can’t be without two good players,” lamented head coach Carrie Saul. “It was a rough night. We have a small team. We did our best and they never gave up.”

Northampton knew it was going to be without EPC 3rd team All-Star Paige Hamilton entering the contest. The sophomore was on the shelf after having season-ending surgery the week before.

The Kids played the second half without the services of 2nd team All-Star Liv Churetta who battled a knee injury and other ailments over the closing weeks of the season.

Williamson earned her second-straight EPC 1st team All-Star nod for a season that saw her break the Northampton season record for goals scored. The junior also ascended to the top of the career goals ladder, finishing the campaign with 71.

Northampton 2026 scoring leaders (goals, assists):

Madi Williamson (35, 11), Hayden Lopata (11, 8), Paige Hamilton (9, 6), Emma Schall (6, 4), Haylee Haupt (3, 1), Livia Churetta (3, 6), Grace Jones (3, 7), Laila Dolak (2, 2), Emma Gerstner (1, 0), Kacee Medei (0, 2), Alena Santos (0, 2)

Goalkeeper Saves/shots:

Kailyn Gevaudan-Mollenkof 20 shots, 13 saves; Kaya Pietryka 195 shots, 157 saves

Outlook:

The 2027 season looks promising for the team. The only seniors on the roster were Kacee Medei and Kailyn Gevaudan-Mollenkof. If they can catch a break on the health front, they are positioned to make a run for the program’s first district title berth since 2010.