AUBURN – It would be an understatement to say the Sacopee Valley field hockey team was on a mission Saturday afternoon, and its relentless pressure eventually proved to be the difference.
Center-halfback Katie Pike scored 36 seconds into overtime as the Hawks rallied for a 3-2 win over St. Dom’s in a Western Maine Conference game.
The Saints had beaten the Hawks 3-2 in their season-opener, surviving two goals in the second half.
In yesterday’s game, the Hawks erupted for three goals in the final 12:44 of play.
St. Dom’s (5-2) lost its first-ever regular season game in five years since their new home field was built.
In overtime, Sacopee Valley took the opening tap and drove immediately toward the offensive circle.
Kayla Crowly sent a crossing pass that caromed off the stick of St. Dom’s goalie Austyn Carolin and continued across the goalmouth. The Saints were forced to begin the extra session minus one player because of a pushing call.
“I told the girls to pick it up in overtime,” Pike said. “We pushed the ball down the right side and (Crowly) sent that crossing pass my way. All the girls were totally into today’s game, especially after what had happened the first time we played them.”
Sacopee Valley (4-3) had come out energized in the second half and the pressure eventually paid off when Pike tipped in a pass from Sarah Lane to knot the score with just 3:26 remaining in regulation.
“We played really well,” Sacopee Valley coach Katie Bernier said. “They really picked up the intensity level in the second half. I felt the defense did a good job of controlling the St. Dom’s forwards, because they are fast. This game was important because we consider St. Dom’s our biggest rival.”
The Saints had set the tone in the first half as Michela Fyler, Malley O’Shea, Kayla McKay and Elisha Dorso fired several shots at Hawk goalie Kristine Thayer (12 saves).
Freshman Mary Lewis scored the initial goal 12:17 in to the game. Dorso made it 2-0 on a tip-in.
St. Dom’s led in shots 15-10 and in penalty corners 15-8.
“You gotta score goals to win,” Saints coach Brian Kay said. “That’s the bottom line. We had (12) corners in the first half and could score directly off any of them. They need to get to the ball quicker and set things up.”
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