It’s beginning to look like deja vu times two for the Winthrop field hockey team.

The Ramblers are on a roll after having won the last two Mountain Valley Conference championships. The feat is rather amazing considering the Ramblers graduated a dozen players in 2003.

The combination of some veterans and a talented crop of juniors provided plenty of expectations. The team won 12 of 14 games during the regular season, scoring 39 goals and allowing 13.

“We did have a nice nucleus to build around,” Ramblers coach Sharon Coulton said. “Tabitha Therrien was back in goal for her senior year, and Nicole Emery and Ashley Burgess are both very strong at their positions and experiences as was Kenzie Demkowicz. There was some proven scorers, Elyse Cole for example from the JVs.”

Emery responded by leading in scoring with 18 goals and eight assists. Her four goals in the season opener against Mountain Valley puts her second on the career scoring list behind Emily Dooling. Dooling plays at the University of Maine.

Still, the opposition couldn’t key on Emery because Cole (six), Demkowicz (five) and Stephaine Convery (four) could put the ball in the cage. Convery scored with nine minutes left in a 1-0 game against Hall Dale on Saturday. This year, Cole and Convery are joined on the front line by fellow seniors Sarah Cook, Laura Kenney, and Mary Zimmerman. Sophomores Kristi Zimmerman and Brittant Gaudet also see action. Winthrop mixes things up, regarding which format it runs during games.

“It allows us to get the most players involved based on our current personnel and numbers at each position,” Coulton said. “I like the 3-3-3-1 and we have practiced a 4-3-2-1. With an experienced team we can make changes mid game, if it seems advantageous.”

The defense is led by Burgess, a strong, aggressive player. Her powerful reverse stick drive makes her an effective defender on the left side. She is the first fly on defensive corners and does stuck stops on offensive corners. Anna White, Steph Curtis and Megan Lynch returned. Lindsay Laflamme started the season in goal, but Keltie Mullen who was a backup for three years, is expected to return.

Winthrop also enjoyed a few bonuses because Meghan McCarthy started last season as a freshman. Mary Zimmerman and Lindsay Laflamme (halfback) each returned to the team after not playing in 2002.

Despite the Ramblers’ solid seasons, they were snake bitten in the playoffs. There has only been one win in two years, but the current team is determined to erase past shortcomings.

“It’s typical to have a team goal,” Coulton said. “We want to equal or better the previous season’s record. Some years that is a more realistic target than others. We started off with a loss last season and then fortunately things jelled rather quickly once the girls had a few games under their belts. They are eager to try to defend the MVC championship and of course optimistic about going further in the tournament.”

Back in action

Remaining idle is usually a hard pill to swallow.

It’s no different for an official. Pam Newton reluctantly remained on the sidelines for the first year since 1972.

Newton broke her tibia, lower leg, while walking around Worthley Pond this summer. The injury resulted when her ankle twisted and rolled.

“I was almost home from the walk around the pond,” Newton said. “John Paradis helped me up and brushed me off and I finished the walk home. The ankle wasn’t involved and the break healed terrifically fast.”

Newton will see a doctor to find out when she can return. The longtime official hasn’t exactly been in the background because she is also the assignor for central Maine. For the past few years, the lack of qualified referees has caused scheduling conflicts.

“I did go on the field, as we are so strapped for refs,” Newton said. “I paid for it the next day, with all of the swelling.”

x` It’s so hard to be here and know I’m needed. That’s not vanity, just a fact.”