By Bob McPhee,Staff Writer

LIVERMORE FALLS – A shift in position didn’t slow down Taryn Flagg. In fact, her performance last year jumped to another level.

The Livermore Falls field hockey team is reaping the benefits, and the rest of the Mountain Valley Conference is still struggling to slow the Andies’ driving force.

Formerly a center halfback, Flagg shifted to center forward last season. The move helped spark the Andies to a team-record 12 victories and a spot in the Western Class C regional final.

Flagg scored 21 goals and assisted on 13 others.

“Last year, I thought my role was going to be (different),” Flagg said. “I thought I had to help the team get the ball up into the circle and was not expecting to score as often as I did. I was more focused on passing the ball to my open teammates, rather than scoring.”

Flagg reads the field well and anticipates where the ball is going to be. She led the team in assists and tied for the team lead for goals scored with Erica Gats.

“This year I have remained on the forward line,” Flagg said. “At first, the change was hard as I was used to playing both offense and defense throughout the whole game. Now, I still play both at times, but my biggest focus is offense.”

Livermore Falls has won its first five games for what is believed to be the best-ever start in the history of the program. The team suffered an upset loss to Hall-Dale on Friday. Still, the Andies are seeking to match the exploits of the 1976 Class B state championship team.

Flagg is doing her part with four multiple goal games, including three goals against Georges Valley and Jay and four against Dirigo. Her six assists leads the team.

“She is a true competitor,” Jay coach Jane DiPompo said. “She goes for the ball and doesn’t wait for it to get to her. She loves to play because you can see it in her face and is also unselfish and wants the team to succeed. I double-teamed her, and she still scored three goals.

“We stopped Erica Gates for a while but not her. I’ll have to think about what I want to do next time we meet them.”

The Andies have scored 32 goals in five games behind a front line that also includes senior Kelsey Biliouris and juniors Rebecca Leclerc and Rachel Ventrella. The players have come to know where each other are at all times on the field.

Flagg was named an MVC first-team all-star the previous two years. She was on the Sun Journal second-team all-state team.

“I approach each game knowing that I need to give 110 percent all of the time,” Flagg said. “We must work together as team in order to succeed. I lead through my actions on the playing field and try to set examples for others to follow.”

The talented Flagg knows the value of teamwork, having also earned letters in basketball and softball. Last year, her basketball season was cut short and softball was ditched due to a knee injury that required surgery.

The knee hasn’t slowed her down any this fall.

Flagg also excels academically, ranking first in the senior class with a GPA of a 97.43. She is involved in Student Senate, National Honor Society, Varsity LF and holds office in all three student organizations. She plans on studying occupational therapy in college.