AUBURN – Anyone watching the Gardiner field hockey team pack up its belongings after Thursday’s game against Edward Little wouldn’t of known the outcome.

The Tigers didn’t say a word as they slowly put away their water bottles and cleats. Not one girl laughed, not one smiled.

The Tigers jumped out to a 2-0 lead at the half, but then barely held on to escape with a 2-1 decision.

“We didn’t bring our A’ mental game today,” said Gardiner coach Mo McNally, whose team was fresh off an overtime win against defending state champion and previously undefeated Skowhegan earlier this week. “I’m just not sure we got off the bus. Our defense is usually our forte, today it wasn’t and (the Red Eddies) capitalized, as they should. It won’t be a fun talk on the bus, that’s for sure.”

A pair of Laura Nimon tallies staked the Tigers (7-1) to their lead. Bryleigh Crook set up Nimon’s first goal with a nifty crossing pass to the far post with 15:38 left in the half. Her second score came off a penalty corner, one of 11 in the first half, less than nine minutes later. Lynsey Seymour fed Nimon at the top of the circle and the senior buried it.

“Lynsey sets me up great most of the time,” said a reserved Nimon. “All I have to do is put it in.”

The Red Eddies (6-2) remained focused even though they trailed by two at the half.

“(The girls) were still positive,” said Edward Little coach Greg Perkins, who earned his 100th career victory earlier in the week. “They felt they needed a little more consistency and to get a few breaks.”

Seven minutes into the second half Katie Bonney and the Red Eddies received their first real break with a penalty corner. Bonney struck the ball to the top of the circle. Kristin Keene settled the pass before aggressively attacking the cage. Teammate Gina Gaetani then tapped the ball forward and Bonney fired it into the right hand corner.

The two teams battled back and forth until the late stages of the match. With less than seven minutes remaining, Gaetani raced ahead of the pack on a breakaway and Gardiner keeper Erica Berry (11 saves) hustled out to cut down the scoring angle. Berry went down to stop the initial shot and then quickly covered the left post to get a piece of the rebound opportunity.

“I thought we played with intensity the whole game,” said Perkins. “Considering the team we played today, we gave them a run for their money. We still have two more big ones (Cony and Skowhegan) ahead. Hopefully we can win one of them and stay in the hunt.”