Field Hockey Completes Dramatic Comeback, Boys Soccer Earns 2nd Win
September 30, 2026
• Needham boys soccer improved to 2-1-3 with their win over Walpole, while field hockey snapped a five game losing streak.
Hours after the first MIAA power rankings of the season were released on Sept. 29, Needham boys soccer earned a dominant 4-0 win over Walpole at home. Field hockey followed with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Braintree the next day.
Walpole had an early chance against the Rockets as a light mist fell down at Brock Field, but goalkeeper Eli Dain came out of the net to make the stop. Needham dominated possession and had a few solid chances before they broke through late in the half. With under five minutes to go, Declan Moore sent a pass up to Austin Williams, who ran past the Walpole backline and scored around the Timberwolves’ goalie to put the Rockets up 1-0.
A timeout was called following Williams’ goal, and shortly after Walpole put the ball back into play, Needham struck again. Declan O’Brien chipped a pass to Alex Lucas on the left side. The Walpole goalie came out to challenge Lucas but did not get enough of the ball, as the deflection stayed at Lucas’ feet and he scored to make it 2-0, just 12 seconds after Williams’ goal.
Max Shoemaker found the back of the net for his first goal of the season at the 33:29 mark of the second half. He scored again late in the game, chipping the ball over the Walpole goalie who had come far out of net.
With the 4-0 win, the Rockets are averaging 2.3 goals per game, while allowing 1.7. Williams leads the team with three goals on the season. The Rockets followed with a 1-0 home win over Weymouth on Thursday, Oct. 1, before hitting the road for their next three games.
On Wednesday, Needham field hockey came into their matchup on a five game skid, while Braintree had lost two straight, sitting at 2-4. But the Wamps were able to score first, with just under six minutes left in the first quarter, off a corner as Josie Reen got the ball past Needham goalie Jackie Lancaster.
There would be no scoring in the second quarter, so the Rockets still trailed 1-0 at halftime. But in the early minutes of the third, sophomore Caitlin Cooper scored the equalizer for Needham, her second goal of the season.
That 1-1 score would remain throughout the second half, until Needham broke through with less than a minute to go. Junior Lila Hassan setup sophomore Kathryn Brinkhaus for an incredible goal, the fifth of the season for Brinkhaus.
Braintree got one last opportunity on a corner as time expired, but the Rockets knocked it away and celebrated the victory. With the win, Needham snapped their five game losing streak heading into another Bay State Conference matchup on Monday, October 5, when they host Newton North at 4pm, a game that will be recorded by The Needham Channel.
