RUMFORD – The Dirigo field hockey wasted no time settling the score Wednesday afternoon at Hosmer Field.

A pair of first-half goals by Katie Waite and Chelsea Austin proved to be enough as the Cougars posted a 2-0 win against arch-rival Mountain Valley.

Dirigo has been hindered by a lack of offense.

“We’re usually defensive minded,” Dirigo coach Gretchen Errington said. “But we’ve worked a lot with the ball in the circle, and they are not messing around. Our first priority is to score.”

Dirigo (1-1) opened the scoring when Ricki Sinclair fed Waite on the left post, and she fired it in to the cage. Sinclair, a freshman, had dribbled the ball in and drew Mountain Valley goalie Kim Clark out. This allowed Waite to corral a pass.

Mountain Valley entered the game with high expectations following its season-opening win at Telstar. The Falcons had three penalty corners in the first few minutes but couldn’t get a shot off.

Dirigo fullbacks Catlin Dolloff and freshman Katrina Pulk rotated back. This kept the pressure off goalie Courtney Knox who was starting her second-ever varsity game.

“This is frustrating,” Mountain Valley coach Melissa Forbes said. “I’d be willing to take a corner every time from inside the circle, but the whistles never came. After several times, the girls were wondering why.”

Dirigo struck again following an offensive push. Waite hit the left post, the ball caromed to the right, and Austin stepped in and one-timed it home.

Dirigo also received a strong effort by Abby Fenstermacher who shadowed Falcon threat Katlin Drury.

“The difference this year has been hard work,” Errington said. “They have a positive attitude and are working together. They are not letting things distract them. I subbed Morgan Hutchins in early, and she played the rest of the game.”

The Falcons applied pressure in the second half thanks to Stephaine Beadle, Sara Martin and Shainna Mills. Each time, Knox stepped forward to deny shots.

“My girls are tired,” Forbes said. “They need to be in better shape, but you have to credit Dirigo. They played hard the entire game.”