TURNER — Bri Hammond didn't even set foot on the soccer field that night.

She didn't break a sweat, didn't make a pass, didn't take a shot on goal. Still, she was as much of a factor in the Leavitt win that evening as she was in all the Hornets' games she starred in this season.

"Her impact on the bench and on the game was just as critical as if she had  been playing center mid," Leavitt coach Chris Cifelli said, " But suffice it to say, I liked it a lot better with her on the field and directing traffic."

Hammond sat out that night game against Maranacook with an injury. She was sidelined, but her impact was as strong as ever. She cheered on her team and gave them advice on the sidelines. The Hornets went on to beat their rivals 4-0. Hammond brought out the best in her teammates without even playing.

"It was actually really cool," Hammond said. "It was really emotional because my team rallied around me. They played amazing, and it was so awesome that my team could be there for me and cover for me when I'm not there."

The Hornets entered the season with high hopes, and it was Hammond that was Leavitt's driving force. The Hornets finished the year 11-2-1 for third in Western Class B. The Hornets lost in the KVAC championship game, but won their first tournament quarterfinal before losing to York in the semifinal.

"Bri has a tremendously high soccer IQ," Cifelli said. " She was able to anticipate how the game was unfolding and make adjustments on the fly. At times, it was like having a coach on the field. Bri's stat line is perhaps not as gaudy as other girls, but her ability to control the midfield was crucial to our success. Bri made every player on our team better in some way. The confidence that we had to go forward and send numbers to attack came from the fact that we knew that the middle third was being run by Bri."

Hammond took that role seriously. She had already emerged as a team leader her junior season. Seeing how the seniors led the team that year, she knew she had a greater responsibility.

"I definitely thought about how I could be more vocal on the field and be more vocal with the team," Hammond said. "I knew I needed to step up my game and my role as a leader."

She did that so well that she was like a second coach.

"On the field, Bri became the general that we needed," Cifelli said. " Bri struck a wonderful balance between playing to attack and defending. On numerous occasions, Bri would swing the momentum back into our favor, and we would see an upswing in chances at goal. Her passing was also a great area of pride for her. Bri worked tirelessly to become a great passer and enjoyed it as much, if not more than scoring."

A factor in her ability to play even better this season was that her knee was stronger after injuring it her sophomore year. Her junior season was a bit rocky as she adjusted to playing again after the injury, but she was free of that worry this year.

It all paid off nicely. Hammond, who will play soccer at the University of Maine and has been accepted to the nursing program there, was not only an all-conference player, but was the KVAC Class B Player of the Year. She also was named to the All-Western Maine team and the All-State team, the only local girls' soccer player named to that squad.

"I've always kind of worked for it through high school," Hammond said. "I never really got the recognition. Finally, this year, when coach told me, I was just kind of taken aback, but it was a great honor to be able to be on that team."

kmills@sunjournal.com

All-Region Girls’ Soccer Team

First team

G - Emily Carrier, Rangeley, Jr

F - Marlie Mochamer, Mt. Blue, Sr.

F - Natalie Bolduc, Dirigo, Soph.

F - Sophie Goulet, St. Dom’s, Sr.

F - Allie Hammond, Rangeley, Sr.

MF - Emily Grund, Edward Little, Sr.

MF - Bri Hammond, Leavitt, Sr.

MF - Brooke Lawrence, Lisbon, Jr.

MF - Stephanie Costello, St. Dom’s, Jr.

B - Molly McCafferty, Sr. Mt. Abram

B - Hannah Allen, Mt. Blue, Sr.

B - Frankie Lally, Edward Little, Sr.

B - Dayle Jordan, St. Dom’s, Jr.

Second Team

G - Natasha Derouche, Dirigo, Soph.

F - Kayla Angelica, Lisbon, Soph.

F - Alexi Deering, Jay, Jr.

F - McKenzie Paterson, Mountain Valley, Sr.

F- Emma Turtin, Poland, Soph.

MF - Lindsay Gallant, Mountain Valley, Sr.

MF - Tori Zupancic, Leavitt, Jr.

MF - Marrissa Caskin, Oak Hill, Jr.

MF - Alannah White, Jay, Sr.

B - Kiersten Zufelt, Oxford Hills, Jr.

B - Grace Burnett, Winthrop, Sr.

B - Sophie Spiller, Poland, Soph.

B - Michaela Despins, Gray-New Gloucester, Jr.