The unknown suits the Oak Hill Raiders just fine.

Oak Hill takes on the Maine Central Institute Huskies in the Class C field hockey state championship Saturday at the University of Maine in Orono. Both teams are searching for their first state title, and neither team played a common opponent this season, with MCI playing out of the KVAC and Oak Hill the MVC.

“You don’t see them, and I think it’s a good thing,” Oak Hill coach Betsy Gilbert said. “The girls know they have to come out and play their own game. They don’t know what they’re in for, what to expect. They need to be ready for whatever is thrown at them and come out strong.”

Gilbert said regardless of the opponent, the Raiders have a few basic things they need to focus on.

“We have to play aggressive, we have to hustle, we have to cut onto the ball,” Gilbert said. “The girls just have to want it, they have to play like they did Tuesday night if they want to be successful. They have to play together as a complete team and not rely on one or two people.”

Oak Hill redeemed itself in the Class C South final this season. A year ago, the Raiders went unbeaten through the regular season at 13-0-1, and reached the regional title game, but fell there to Lisbon.

This year, after an up-and-down, 9-5-0 season, the Raiders came alive at the right time.

“Our whole team motto this year has been, ‘One team, one dream,'” Gilbert said. “They got a taste of it last year, losing in the regional final, they wanted it so badly and they just didn’t quite get there.

“We struggled a little bit (this year),” Gilbert said. “There were times throughout the season that were lower points, but that’s always a good thing for me. It got them to be humble, and made them dig a lot deeper. If they wanted to be there Saturday, to try and make this dream come true, they had to start working, and working harder.”

The Raiders haven’t relied on one scoring threat this season. Kaylee Veilleux and Erika Hannigan had their fair share of points, but so did a host of other Raiders.

“It’s been shared,” Gilbert said. “The midfield girls have been scoring, the defensive girls have been scoring. They all are.”

And Abby Fuller has been a rock in the cage this season, earning 12 wins including the playoffs, with seven shutouts.

“She has done a stellar job,” Gilbert said. “She works so hard every day. She wants us to push her even more as the season’s gone on.”

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