CRANSTON — There were three quarters left to play, but the game was over.

Two goals might be the most dangerous lead in hockey, regardless of surface, but for the Classical field hockey team two goals seems rather comfortable — even if the team doesn’t quite believe it.

A swarming defense has made the Purple the best team in Division III and, after getting two goals in the first quarter, they showed why against second-place Cranston with a 2-0 win that only proved that Classical is the team to beat this fall.

“We knew that Cranston was a really great team coming in and it was going to be one of our tougher games this season,” Classical’s Maddy Colangelo said. “We really wanted to get that energy up in that first quarter.

“I’m really happy we got our two goals in and then the rest of the game was just focusing on not letting in any goals.”

 

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It’s been a theme with the Purple this season.

While the season is still in its infancy, Classical has established itself as a defensive-minded team that will make life impossible for opposing offenses. The Purple’s midfield is more like a minefield, blowing up any opportunities other teams have. With Colangelo as a defensive midfielder, Heidy Guarcas, Violet Sutton and Catherine Jankowich on wings and Olivia Martins patrolling the back, the Classical defense if nearly impenetrable.

If an opponent survives that crew, goalie Trinity Monteiro isn’t exactly fond of letting shots by.

The players work as a unit, with everyone knowing each other’s moves before they’re made. Monteiro calls the shots from the back, but the group plays with intensity regardless of what the scoreboard says.

“It’s just remembering the underdog mentality,” Colangelo said. “Just thinking we were down one goal the whole time, everybody putting in a full effort.

“It just got the team more energy from fighting for the balls and not let one in.”

The system works. Classical surrendered two goals in a 3-2 win over Cranston in the season opener, but gave up only one in its next four games.

Nothing about Monday’s matchup with the Thunderbirds — who hadn’t lost since the season opener — screaming scoring bonanza, but when Colangelo scored on a penalty corner it seemed offense might steal the show. That idea only grew after Opal Peffer-Liesse dropped home another goal that had the Purple up, 2-0, after one quarter of play.

But Classical wasn’t treating the lead like a safe one.

“We want to stay humble. That’s our mindset in a lot of these games,” Peffer-Liesse said. “Always pretend you’re a few points down and you come in better.”

Cranston played well in the opening three minutes, but Colangelo’s goal rattled its cages. The second quarter was more of a stalemate, but in the second half the Thunderbirds found a way to win balls in the midfield, transition them up and get near the circle.

“We realized what we had to work on — communication and spacing and working as a team,” Cranston captain Mia Santomassimo said. “In the first quarter we were playing as individuals and, after that, we realized we had to work together and couldn’t get mad at each other.”

The Thunderbirds pushed hard, but Classical’s defense pushed harder. Whenever Cranston got near the cage, a Purple defender was there to sweep the ball out and make it start the process all over again. Some attempts made their way through but Monteiro was there to make sure the lead never shrunk.

“We all work on constant communication to make sure we do have it,” Colangelo said. “We don’t believe there’s anything such as over-communication.”

The Thunderbirds now have two losses this season, both to Classical, and have three one-goal wins on their resumé. They know what kind of team they have and what kind of team they want to be, but a game like Monday’s just reinforces the idea that there is plenty of work to get done.

“I know it sounds cheesy, but it’s really teamwork and working together,” Santomassimo said. “We’re so close and we’re so good, but we need to anticipate each other’s movements.”Classical has done a good job of doing that this fall. On the Purple’s first run through the D-III schedule, they went 5-0 and outscored opponents 21-3. Monday started the second trip through the division and there will be one more after that before the playoffs start.

“We have to keep going because we really could lose any game,” Peffer-Liesse said. “Every team is just getting better the more and more they go. We have to continue our consistency.”

“We’re barely a third into the season,” Colangelo said. “Playoffs also breeds new teams, so we’re not going to get into our heads.

“We’re going to keep working hard at practice and be preparing for the playoffs.”