Martlets Defeat NMH

On a sunny Saturday afternoon at Hovey Field, the Westminster Martlets hosted NMH for their third matchup of the season. Both teams battled through the lingering September heat, creating chances at both ends of the field during a tightly contested first half. The Martlets showed flashes of energy on offense, while their defense remained composed under pressure. Joanna Halle '29 anchored the back line with timely stops and consistent effort, helping keep NMH off the board. Despite several promising opportunities, neither team was able to convert, and the match remained scoreless heading into halftime.

That changed quickly in the second half. Just two minutes into the third quarter, sophomore Lily O’Callaghan received the ball in the circle and fired a shot through heavy traffic to give Westminster a 1-0 lead, igniting the home bench and the crowd. Building off that momentum, the Martlets began to generate more consistent offensive pressure, earning several corners and maintaining possession in the attacking end. On one of those corners, O’Callaghan again sparked the offense with a dangerous shot that deflected out to Stella Spitz '27, who calmly tucked it past the defense to extend the lead to 2-0. A well-earned goal for Spitz who gave it her all today for the Martlets! NMH responded with a late third-quarter goal, narrowing the margin to 2-1 and setting the stage for a tense final stretch.

Knowing they’d need to stay composed, the Martlets stepped up in the fourth quarter, dominating possession and limiting NMH’s offensive chances. In the final minutes, NMH pushed hard and earned two late corners, but Westminster’s defense held strong. All eleven players on the field dug deep, fending off the pressure with grit and determination. As the final buzzer sounded and the Martlets cleared the ball from the circle, the team celebrated a well-earned, hard-fought victory. The win reflects Westminster’s continued growth and resilience, highlighted by poised play on both ends of the field.

Our Grit and Grace player of the game is Joanna Halle ‘29! Joanne gave it her all today and made big plays when the team needed her most! Her positivity, consistent effort, and quiet competitiveness will continue to play a big role for the Martlets.