AUBURN — Oxford Hills finally capitalized on its chances Tuesday in a KVAC field hockey showdown against Edward Little.

Jade Smedberg had two goals to pace the Vikings to a 3-1 victory over the Red Eddies at Sherwood Heights Elementary School. Coach Cindy Goddard knew her team would be ready for Edward Little.

“We are now playing (teams) in our schedule where we compete with,” Goddard said. “These are the teams that you have to come out and play hard or you might not walk away with a win. So it was nice to see they competed hard.”

The Vikings had 17 shots on goal to EL’s 10.

Oxford Hills (3-9-1) caps off the season Wednesday with a home game against Hampden Academy.

The Red Eddies’ effort wasn’t what coach Greg Perkins was looking for in their final regular season contest.

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“I am not sure if we ever got going,” Perkins said. “That was not the way we played last week. I don’t know if it was the day itself; we never really showed up. That happens sometimes. (Oxford Hills) really wanted it. Oxford Hills came out here to win and they did what they needed to do to win. They were tough today.”

Coming into the game, EL held the No. 7 seed in the Class A North playoff picture and, despite the loss, remained there after the fact.

The Red Eddies (5-9) picked up two wins over Mt. Ararat and Oceanside last week on the road.

After a slow opening 15 minutes of the game Tuesday, the Vikings started to control the tempo. Smedberg capitalized on a penalty corner try with 9:39 remaining in the opening half.

“It was a team effort with our corner,” Smedberg said. “It was a great feeling to know that we had a chance, because we have had a rough season.”

Perkins liked the way his team started the second half and it showed on the scoreboard. Anna LeBlanc’s initial shot was saved by Maddie Day, but the rebound went right to Liz Bellman who fired it home 3:33 into the second half.

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The momentum quickly swung back into the Vikings’ direction, though, when Maggie Hartnett sent the ball toward the goal and Smedberg was able to get her stick on it to change its direction and it found the back of the cage just 25 seconds later.

“My teammate Maggie Hartnett drove it and I just tipped it just to try to get another teammate to be able to hit it in,” Smedberg said. “The goalie didn’t see I tipped it, so she didn’t move. It just went in and everybody was confused because they didn’t see me tip it.”

“I was pleased with the way we came out in the second half,” Perkins said. “We came out and we tied it up. Then some fluky thing and we were down again.”

Oxford Hills added an insurance marker while a player up when Jessica Bickford scored with just under 10 minutes remaining in the contest.

“We did similar things like we did against Leavitt,” Goddard said. “We got to the outside and carried the ball and made some good passes. We did a much better job winning the 50-50 balls cutting on and this time we were actually able to finish around the goal cage, which we really haven’t been able to do.”

All three Oxford Hills goalies saw playing time. Kaisa Heikkinen started the first half, making three saves, while Day started the second half, stopping one shot. Jenna Moxcey finished the final few minutes and didn’t see a shot.

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Goddard was also pleased she was able to get everybody on the roster playing time.

Elise Syphers made four saves for the Red Eddies.

nfournier@sunjournal.com

Jaylyn Metivier, left, of Edward Little and Megan Godbout of Oxford Hills compete for the ball in Auburn on Tuesday. 

Edward Little High School senior Grace McBride gets hugs from her father, Matt, mother, Julie and brother, Nate, prior to the start of her final regular season game in Auburn on Tuesday. McBride’s older brother, Eli, graduated from EL and is now serving in the U.S. Coast Guard. 

Jade Smedberg of Oxford Hills shoots on Edward Little goal keeper Elise Syphers during the first half in Auburn on Tuesday. Sierra Green, left, and Mikaela Scott of EL defend on the play. Smedberg did not score on the play. 

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Oxford Hills goal keeper Kaisa Heikkinen, blocks a shot by Liz Bellman of Edward Little High School during Tuesday’s game in Auburn. Emmy Corbett of Oxford Hills is at right. 

Jordan Cummings of Edward Little High School sends the ball up the field during Tuesday’s game against Oxford Hills.

Liz Bellman of Edward Little High School knocks the ball to the ground against an Oxford Hills defender during Tuesday’s game in Auburn. 

Oxford Hills goal keeper Kaisa Heikkinen, blocks a shot by Liz Bellman of Edward Little High School during Tuesday’s game in Auburn. Emmy Corbett of Oxford Hills is at right. 

Kiara Fournier of Edward Little brings the ball up the field against Oxford Hills defender Kate Bowen in Auburn on Tuesday. 

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