Lauren Blake scores with 4:31 left to lift the Eagles past the Eddies.
AUBURN – Look at the big picture and it’s easy to conclude that Edward Little High School’s first fall season in the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference was a lateral move. On the field hockey side of the equation, however, there’s little doubt that, for now, the Red Eddies took a step upward.
“We play Skowhegan, Cony and Gardiner each twice during the regular season,” said Messalonskee coach Amy Bernatchez. “Hopefully that prepares us for the big games.”
Apparently it does. Lauren Blake scored two goals, including the game-winner with 4:31 remaining in regulation, to propel No. 5 Messalonskee past No. 4 Edward Little, 2-1, in an Eastern Class A quarterfinal Wednesday afternoon at Sherwood Heights.
As a junior-laden squad, the Red Eddies walked into last October’s Western Maine playoffs as the third seed, survived a quarterfinal test from longtime Bonny Eagle that went the distance to penalty corners, and walked away with a regional title in its final Southern Maine Activities Association season.
With nine seniors in the mix, the Red Eddies (9-5-1) played as well this time around, only to see their post-season arrive at an abrupt conclusion.
“I thought we played well offensively in the second half. We had plenty of chances,” said EL coach Greg Perkins.
Messalonskee (8-6-1) struck early and late, sandwiching Blake’s goals around those numerous EL flurries.
The Eagles snagged a 1-0 lead at 15:35 of the first half off a penalty corner. Clarice Pepper took the initial stroke from the end line. Danielle McCarthy uncorked an accurate blast from the outer edge of the circle, and Blake deflected it past EL goalie Mary Martin.
Kristin Keene notched the equalizer with 2:24 remaining in the half. Danielle Martineau worked the ball from left to right in front of Messalonskee keeper Lauren Bridges, and Gina Gaetani delivered a one-touch pass to Keene.
EL’s chances to break the tie after intermission included nine penalty corners.
“One time I thought we had a goal, but they had already called a corner,” Perkins said. “I guess the whistle was just a little too quick for us.”
Messalonskee called two timeouts midway through the second half before McCarthy set up Blake for the winning goal on another bang-bang play at the goal mouth.
“I was just trying to tally the troops. We did not want OT,” said Bernatchez. “We must have had at least five or six overtime games this year.”
Martin made 10 saves for EL. Bridges turned away six shots for the Eagles. Each team attempted a dozen corners.
The Eagles eked out a 1-0 win over the Eddies in their lone previous meeting. The air was much colder, the field noticeably wetter and the stakes significantly higher in the rematch.
“We’re a team that likes a fast track and relies on our passing,” Bernatchez said. “I thought the field was pretty good. It was greasy in a few spots, but it held up pretty well.”
Among the seniors playing their final game for EL were multi-year letter winners Jenn Lever, Heather Martineau, Kathy Harder, Jessica Donovan, Jennifer Nussinow, Becky Hughes and Kellie Parent.
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