By Colleen Casey, Globe Staff

After dropping a close 1-0 game earlier in the week to Chelmsford, the Acton-Boxboro field hockey team knew it needed to win Wednesday. The Colonials came out determined and played with passion from the first whistle to the last to beat visiting Weston, 3-0.

Elena Cardarelli, her younger sister Leah Cardarelli, and Katherine Gnall each put a point on the board for the No. 15-ranked Colonials.

“We had a really rough game against Chelmsord in the grass,” said A-B coach Mae Shoemaker. “We have a lot of speed on our team and a lot of real young inexperienced girls and they’re just now starting to click together. This was a real big test because Weston is always terrific.”

The Colonials scored off their first corner opportunity 10 minutes into the game. Elena Cardarelli inbounded the ball to Cara Conery and Conery passed back to Cardarelli, who tipped it past the left post. Shoemaker said the team had gone through the set play in practice the day before.

No.9 Weston had a few opportunities to score before the end of the half, sending two balls from outside the circle into the net, but couldn’t find anyone inside the circle to tip them in and make them count.

The Colonials emerged on fire in the second half, outshooting Weston 7-1. Gnall tipped in a rocketed pass from Leah Cadarelli with 21:16 remaining in the game to give A-B a 2-0 advantage.

A-B still wasn’t satisfied. The speedy forward line forced seven more penalty corners before the games end, while the defense allowed only one for Weston.

“I think our girls just were hungry after having the one loss and that difficult game,” said Shoemaker. “They were just determined. We were really good playing through from beginning to end.”

Fast-footed Elena found her sister Leah for the final goal with 8:14 remaining.

"I love working with her,” said the elder Cararelli.  “We both talk to each other and we know where each other is going to be. It’s so much fun to play with her.”