Souhegan's Ella Barrett hits the turf going for the ball ahead o of Hollis Brookline's Hailey Arseneau (27) during Monday's game in Hollis. The contest was suspended due to thunder after three periods with the Sabers leading 2-1. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

HOLLIS – The thunder and lightning came, and while Souhegan’s Ella Barrett struck twice, she and the Sabers weren’t able to reap the full benefits – yet.

That may happen Tuesday as there were tentative plans to reschedule Monday’s Souhegan-Hollis Brookline High School season opening field hockey game for the afternoon. The contest was halted after three periods with the Sabers up 2-1 due to thunder and lightning in the area around HB High School’s new turf field.

It was tentatively scheduled to resume today at 4:30 p.m. Although already an official game, both coaches agreed to suspend and resume.

Remember, this is a Souhegan team that graduated 12 seniors after reaching the finals and had just six returnees.

“It was a little sloppy to start for sure,” Sabers coach Kelli Braley said. “I don’t know if it was first game jitters for a new varsity team and things like that.

“But for the most part we’re holding position well. Just not quite sure the next step. We’re getting it, but playing a little ping-pong at times. We’ll get there.”

Barrett seems to already have. She scored two second quarter goals, one just a couple of minutes into the period and another with six minutes left in the half as the Sabers had a flurry of penalty corners that kept Cavs netminder Rae Kline quite busy (10 saves).

“I’m very happy with how they played today,” Cavs coach Allie Buschmann said. “We just have a lot of work to do on our defensive corner unit, making sure we protect our feet, make smart decisions with the ball, finding our teammates, not just getting lazy and hitting to space. But those are all things that will come as the season goes on.”

The season ended in the first round of the playoffs against the Sabers, but the playing field was a little less one-sided, even with Barrett being as tenacious as she was.

“Our first game against them last year was a much different deal,” Buschmann said. “I have a good core group of kids who are in the middle of the age bracket.”

Buschmann had 42 come out for the team, which is the best total in the last 10 years. And Monday they proved they weren’t about to cower to the Sabers, as they cut the deficit in half on a goal by junior Bella Haytayan with about four minutes left in the first half.

And Saber goalie Annie Raduazzo had to make a point-blank save on HB’s Elsie Figueroa just as the buzzer sounded to end the third quarter – and play for the day.

“I was hoping we’d tie it up then because I knew were were going to be calling it,” Buschmann said.

The Sabers, while waiting to see if they can hold on for an eventual win, will also have to wait and see the prognosis on top player Cari Mastergeorge, who appeared to suffer a knee injury early in the game. Mastergeorge, a defensive standout, is the reigning Telegraph Player of the Year.