St. Dom’s Erica Dorso earns 2003 Player of the Year honors.
By Bob McPhee
Staff Writer

AUBURN – Erica Dorso’s speed combined with her numerous playing skills earned her the 2003 Sun Journal Field Hockey Player of the Year honors.

The St. Dom’s senior put forth a solid effort throughout the season, scoring 39 goals and earning 32 assists. Dorso was directly involved in 71 of the team’s 88 goals in 2003. The 39 goals is the second-best in the state behind Meagan Fogarty of Dexter.

“It will be a great loss,” St. Doms coach Brian Kay said. “Erica’s speed has been an asset since her freshman year. This has allowed her to breakaway and drive in to the offensive end.”

Dorso scored 92 goals and had 58 assists in her career.

It was common to see Dorso dribble or push the ball the entire length of the field while dodging several defenders.

Dorso praised her teammates ability in advancing the ball ahead. This season the midfield was led by second team selection Catlin Rutt.

Also considered for this award were Brittney Veazie of Dexter, Julia Chase of Greely and Jessie Corson of Skowhegan.

The Saints have become a powerhouse after winning the past three Western Maine Conference championships. The past two campaigns have produced back-to-back unbeaten regular seasons.

Dorso, who plans to play field hockey in college, has been a major cog in the Saints’ wheel of prosperity. The Saints won their first-ever regional championship last month and Dorso proved to be a force in the playoffs with two of her seven hat tricks against Telstar and Jay. Unfortunately, the Saints’ bubble burst against Dexter in the state title game.

“I didn’t have many touches today,” Erica Dorso said. “But, when I did there was always someone there. It’s disappointing, but like coach Kay told us, no one can take away the things we accomplished during the season. We’re still the best team in the West.”

St. Doms tied the score 1-1 late in the first half on a goal by Elisha Dorso. Malley O’Shea passed to Erica Dorso, who slid the ball over to her sister.

The Saints won 33 of their last 36 games and it was a tribute to the players having worked together as a unit.

The Coach of the Year is Margaret Veazie of Dexter who is retiring after winning four-straight Class C state championships. The Tigers scored a state record 122 goals in 2003 and have won 64-straight games, fourth longest in the United States.

Veazie, a Rumford native, started the Dexter youth program more than a decade ago and the varsity program has become a dynasty. The fact that Veazie had been so involved with the kids throughout the years, has made her decision to step away even more difficult.

Still, Veazie is also thinking of her daughters, Kristy and Brittney. Kristy, 2001 SJ Player of the Year, is enrolled in and plays field hockey at the University of Maine at Farmington. Brittney will be entering college next fall.

“It’s hard to step away,” Veazie said. “But I’m got to think of my own girls. They’ll, be grown up and gone away soon. I just want to enjoy watching them for the next few years.

“The girls have been under a lot of pressure for the past few years. A big reason for the programs success has been the support by the parents and administration. It has been very rewarding.”

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