Margo Graham’s Goal and Barbara Bushnell’s 18 Saves Lift Norwood Field Hockey Over Milton 1-0-November 3, 1988

Goalie Barbara Bushnell Shines as Mustangs Upset Milton in Tournament Opener

Riding a stellar 18-save shutout performance from junior goaltender Barbara Bushnell and capitalizing on their very first offensive opportunity of the match, the Norwood High School field hockey team pulled off a gritty 1-0 upset victory over Bay State League rival Milton High School in the first round of the Division 1 tournament yesterday.

Despite being heavily outplayed statistically by a dominant Milton squad (14-3-2), Norwood (12-4-3) made every possession count. Sophomore Margo Graham provided the game-winner at the 24:45 mark of the first half, pouncing on a rebound to find the back of the net.

“We had to play a lot of defense against a team like that,” said Norwood Coach Sharon Steih. “At the half, we had to pretend it was a 0-0 game. Our goalie was unbelievable. She’s been like that all season… I would say this is one of the biggest wins we’ve ever had. Our kids have really come around to peak in the last four games.”

Milton Controls Possession but Falls Short Against Defensive Wall

Milton dominated the pace of play in the opening half, outshooting Norwood 10-3 and holding a 9-2 advantage in penalty corners. Wildcats attackers Nora Tracey, Michelle O’Toole, and Lisa Bent repeatedly tested Bushnell, but the Norwood netminder stood firm.

Reflecting on her team’s frustrating elimination—their shortest postseason run in six years despite their ninth consecutive tournament appearance—Milton Coach Karen Duggan admitted: “What happened today is sometimes typical of our team. We dominate, but we just don’t score. Their goalie is their most valuable player.”

In the second half, Milton dialed up the pressure further, but stellar defensive clearing work by Andrea Adams and Bushnell’s heroic saves preserved the 1-0 lead, sending the Mustangs forward in the tournament.

• Headline: Margo Graham’s Goal and Barbara Bushnell’s 18 Saves Lift Norwood Field Hockey Over Milton 1-0
• Excerpt: Backed by Barbara Bushnell’s 18 saves and Margo Graham’s rebound goal, Norwood High’s field hockey team stunned Milton 1-0 in the Division 1 tournament opener.
• Categories: Norwood High School Sports, Town History, Field Hockey, MIAA Tournament
• Comma-Separated WordPress Keywords: margo graham, barbara bushnell, sue drummey, suzanne decareau, andrea adams, sharon steih, karen duggan, donna hogan, nora tracey, michelle o’toole, lisa bent, bob dicesare, milton high school field hockey, norwood high school field hockey, november, november 3, 1988, 1980s

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger