Lack of officials delays the Hornets’ season opener with defending state champ Winslow.
By Bob McPhee
Staff Writer

The new season has begun in earnest, with every team trying to find the best combination between new personnel and new plans of attack. There will be numerous distractions that will surface between now and the end of the season.

Leavitt was all geared up to host two-time defending Class B champion Winslow last Saturday.

A shortage of officials forced the game to be rescheduled for Sept. 20 at 10 a.m.

“It was too bad, but the delay couldn’t be helped,” Leavitt coach Wanda Ward-MacLean said. “Last year we beat them the only time we played them during regular season, then beat them 3-0 in the KVAC championship game.”

Leavitt won 12 games last fall, but the end results fell short of the team goals.

Instead of getting tested by the Black Raiders, Leavitt instead opened up its 2003 campaign yesterday with a 3-0 victory over Lincoln Academy.

As the aforementioned need for change filters through every team, Leavitt is no exception. Key players have graduated and the returning veterans, along with the newcomers, will be counted on to fill the void.

The offense is a top priority because just two return who scored last year – center forward Sammy St. Hilaire (five goals, seven assists) and wing Jen Gondeck (four goals, three assists). Jessica Palodino starts on the opposite wing and substitutes include Tiffany Poland, Meghan Dupill, Amanda Angell and Jamie Alexander. The players can’t sit back and wait for the action to develop because it will be hard to replace the former offensive leaders. Kristen Healy and Amy Myrand scored 20 and 18 goals, respectfully, last year.

The midfield experience may provide Leavitt with a stronger offensive set by advancing the ball into the zone. Beth Ellis will play in the middle.

“We had some injuries last year and those could have really affected us,” Ward-MacLean said. “Instead, the injuries allowed other players to gain experience. We had several players switch to different positions and it has provided the team with more versatility.”

Erica Bartlett will play on the other side in the midfield, while either Monica Quimby or sophomore Lyndsey Gilbert will also see action.

Laura Pratt will be in the center on defense. Jessica Ames and Nicole Gilbert will be on either side.

Sophomore Kristin Schrepper will likely start in goal. Kelly Campbell could also see some action in goal.

“We will use a similar style of play,” Ward-MacLean said. “But, I expect the games early to be lower scoring as we adapt to play without our past scorers. The defense should be solid, but goalies will be tested as both are new to this level of play everyday.”

Shortage of referees

For the past several years, a shortage of referees has presented problems for scheduled games. Despite the low numbers, most of the games had been covered.

“I simply couldn’t accommodate each game,” central assignor Pam Newton said. “There are only 30 officials available and some are not qualified to do high school games. So, when there’s 15 games scheduled on a certain day, some have to be bumped. It’s too bad, but until additional officials become qualified, this will be necessary.”

Newton has left Sept. 18 open to reschedule games that had to be postponed.

Grass grows at Harlow

The playing surface at Harlow Park finally has green grass for Dirigo.

For years the five-plus area plot consisted of brown grass and dusty dirt. Things changed over the summer and the positive results are quite noticeable.

Tim Hanson was hired to bring the historic park back to life.

“When I first began, it took me most of the day to get things right, or as right as I can,” Hanson said. “There was fertilizing, seeding, watering, mowing, etc. Throughout the summer, when it’s called for, I had to water the soccer/football field one day and the field hockey/baseball outfield the next day.”

The use of a turbine water reel allowed each field to grow evenly. The reel goes out 300 feet and comes back automatically with water pressure in about four hours, stopping when fully retracted. It takes eight hours to do one field.

“The biggest drawback is only having one machine,” Hanson said. “I have to keep towing it from place to place, but it does a nice job. A few people have complained about the water usage, but, if we want a beautiful park, we must spend some water and labor.”

The fields are being mowed evenly so players are less likely to discover dangerous divots or ruts when switching directions.

“Actually, it has become somewhat of a labor of love,” Hanson said. “I figure if we try to give the kids our best efforts, at least a few of them will learn to appreciate it and gives us their best in return.”