By ALEX SPONSELLER

The Toll Gate and Pilgrim field hockey teams fell in the Division II semifinals last week to wrap up their seasons.

The No. 3 Titans fell to No. 2 Chariho 4-1 while No. 4 Pilgrim lost to eventual, undefeated champion Lincoln, 4-0.

The Chargers came out fast and would grab a quick 2-0 lead over Toll Gate in the first quarter and extend the lead to 3-0 early in the second. Ayla Paley would score on an Amanda Preston pass with just over three minutes left in the first half to make it 3-1.

“I was really hoping that that wouldn’t happen, I was really hoping that we’d score the first goal. Those first three goals, though, were well executed. You have to tip your cap to them, they were just really good goals. They scored on the corner and then the breakaway goal was just great to watch. When someone scores a goal like that, you really enjoy watching it,” said Toll Gate coach Jim Areson.

The clubs battled through a scoreless third quarter, but Chariho would close the door when it found the back of the next with 2:02 remaining in the game to make it 4-1.

Despite the score, the Titans settled down in the second quarter and kept things close for the remainder of regulation.

“At halftime I told them that I thought they played well. I thought they dominated territorially, we had more corners than them, but they scored and we didn’t. That happens sometimes. We scored that goal late in the first half that gave us some momentum, but then we made some silly mistakes,” said Areson.

It was a big bounce back season for the Titans, who finished 2022 with a 2-7 record. Areson was proud of his club’s performance this season.

“Overall it was a good season. For us to make it this far and do the things we did, it was a good season. Unfortunately, it didn’t end the way we hoped, but most seasons end like that. It was a great season,” said Areson, who also credited Preston, a four-year starter and the team’s lone senior. “Amanda has had a great career. She’s run the gambit, she played in the championship as a freshman, we struggled last year and then we got back to the semis. It’s a good thing, she had a great year.”

Pilgrim managed to hold the powerhouse Lions scoreless through the first quarter and trailed just 1-0 at the halftime break.

Lincoln’s offense would find its rhythm in the second half to score three unanswered goals to clinch the win. The Lions then beat Chariho 3-0 days later to clinch the DII title in what was one of the most dominant state championship runs in state history.