There were hugs aplenty after Souhegan fell 4-1 to John Stark in Thursday night's Division II field hockey semis in Exeter. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

EXETER – They got cornered.

The top-ranked John Stark Regional High School girls field hockey team was precise on its penalty corners in Thursday night’s Division II semifinal at Bill Ball Stadium, and that was bad news for the Souhegan Sabers in a 4-1 loss.

All four Generals goals were on corners, including the three they scored in the first quarter. In just 15 minutes, the Sabers found themselves down 3-0.

“That’s what we talked about all week,” Sabers coach Kelly Braley said, her team’s otherwise successful season over at 11-3-2. “If you give them an inch, they’ll take it and make something good out of it…They execute their corners very sharply. And that’s a huge advantage when you’re able to execute.”

“We were on fires on corners today, and it was a blessing,” Generals coach Dennis Pelletier said, his 15-1 team set now to face No. 2 Kennet in Sunday’s finals at Bedford. “We put a lot of time and effort in that to disguise them, because our corners were starting to get predictable for other teams. So we spent a lot of time over the last 10 days trying to figure out different strategies for the corners. … It worked very well.”

Yes, it seemed over early. Addison DeCew scored on a frenzy in front of Sabers goalie Amelia Warecki (four saves) off a corner just 1:21 in. Three minutes later, a blast by Hailey Brisson got deflected in to make it 2-0. And with 1:42 left in the quarter, Lauryn Guevin scored to make it 3-zip.

Just like that, the Sabers were in a deep hole.

“I thought we came out prepared,” Pelletier said. “The big thing when we play Souhegan, we have to come out with the pedal down. I thought we did that tonight.”

Souhegan, which also lost 4-1 to the Generals during the regular season, and fell to them in last year’s finals, managed to get some better pressure in the second quarter, but the one was set right before the end of the first when a steal got the ball to Ari Goulet, who scored with 14 seconds left in the period to make it 3-1.

“The second quarter I thought we were looking like us, catching them in transition a little bit,” Braley said. “We needed a little extra touch on those chances that we didn’t get tonight.”

That goal and the second period pressure concerned the the Generals a bit as momentum was shifting.

“Our defense was making great plays, but when they got the ball they were turning it right back over,” Pelletier said. “That’s eventually how (the Sabers) got their goal. That’s when I got a little nervous. They’ve got good speed and good skill.”

First half Generals goalie Addyson Pelletier made a save just before halftime as the score stood 3-1. But with 8:15 left in the third, Stark’s Olivia Worthen scored and the three-goal lead was preserved. Stark second half goalie Eddie Fischer had to make three saves in the fourth to stifle the Souhegan attack, but things were pretty much decided.

“I had seven seniors who gave me everything and more,” said Braley, who has a young group returning that should keep the train rolling. Souhegan has been a constant contender and that should continue.

“One hundred percent,” Braley said. “The fact of the matter is we have a young team, and I have a goalie (Warecki) who started playing goal in July.

“We got almost as far as you can go. I really can’t ask for more from a young and talented group. The leadership that we had will set them up for success for many years.”