By RYAN WALKER
Grace Mann and Makenzie Fuess’s hat tricks accounted for seven of Norwell’s 10 goals Tuesday night at home in a win over Wayne.
The Knights (4-2-1) have been working all season on “through balls,” or passes that split the opposing defense going toward the net. Head coach Dan Batdorff said that his team has been unsuccessful so far this season with those passes, but the last two games have 20 combined goals, and the Knights are steaming with confidence.
“I mean, it’s great for our confidence,” Batdorff said after the game. “We’ve had a couple tough ones there early in the season, so this is the part of the schedule that we start gaining confidence back. But it’s great to see communication going on, the movement off the ball, looking for those through balls. I was very impressed with how the team’s responding to things that we’ve worked on early that may haven’t worked earlier in the season but now are starting to come together now.”
Norwell got on the board first over Wayne (2-5) within the first seven seconds of the game when Mann connected with Fuess in front of the net. By halftime, it was 4-1 Knights.
Fuess’ four goals are now good for second in the Northeast 8 Conference with seven. While Mann tallied up to a team and NE8-leading eight goals on the season.
The two used their speed on the receiving end of the through balls set up by Batdorff’s offense. Seven goals were clearly enough, but the two had multiple other chances that could have given them more points on the night.
The two have been a force to be reckoned with dating back to last season, as Mann and Fuess put up 34 total goals.
“Grace and Makenzie are rock solid in the middle,” Batdorff said. “I mean, whether they’re playing offense mid, striker — I think Morgan was in there a little bit there with them tonight — the three of them just did a phenomenal job looking for each other, supporting each other, and that really helps us.”
Addison Norris, Ridley Sheets, and Morgan Batdorff scored one each to round out the scoring.
On the defensive end, the Knights have only allowed two goals in their past two games. Batdorff, though, wants to see more of his team do better in that category, trying to force attackers to the outside rather than allowing them to cut toward the middle.
He has seen improvement, especially from his depth on the defensive end but also the communication by goaltender Gracie Rinkenberger.
Rinkenberger has been one of Baatdorff’s highly regarded players over the last two seasons, as not only is she good in net, but also orchestrating the defense.
Gracie Rinkenberger, in the goal, is doing a phenomenal job,” Batdorff said. “She’s communicating with (the defense). She’s getting them in the position she wants, which helps her cut off the angles that she has to defend. It’s all working together with those things.”
All of Norwell’s defenders saw action in the win over Wayne to continue gaining experience.
Norwell also won the junior varsity game 1-0, with Aubrey Meyer scoring the only goal of the match.
Norwell’s next game will be at New Haven, starting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6.
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