OAKLAND — Messalonskee senior midfielder Ally Fischang darts through the offensive zone, hustles past a defender and slices to her sanctuary: The front of the opposing team’s net.

“I can go right-handed and I can go left-handed,” she says through a smile. “I know I can take the shot because I know I can make it.”

HONOR ROLE

• Maranacook/Winthrop attacker Toby Smith scored five goals in a 15-2 win over Camden.

• Maranacook/Winthrop attacker Zach Glazier scored five goals in a 15-2 win over Camden.

• Messalonskee attacker Dan Condon scored four goals in a 14-2 win over Cony.

• Gardiner midfielder Abby Dunn scored nine goals in a 17-2 win over Lincoln.

• Gardiner midfielder Logan Clark scored four goals in a 19-2 win over Lincoln.

• Messalonskee midfielder Ally Fischang scored five goals in an 11-10 loss to Cony and three goals in an 18-4 win over Edward Little.

Additional Photos

MULTITALENTED: Messalonskee High School’s Ally Fischang, 15, credits swimming and cross country running in helping with her lacrosse game. Fischang, a senior, is the Eagles’ top scoring threat. Staff photo by Michael G. Seamans

She does.

Fischang rips a shot through a screen that finds its way to the back of the Cony net for her third goal of the game. She would later score two more goals in a game the Eagles would eventually lose, 11-10.

A week later, in an 18-4 clubbing of Edward Little, Fischang would score three goals to give her eight on the season.

Not bad considering she didn’t expect to take on the role of big-time goal scorer.

“Yeah, not really,” she says. “I use these awkward-angle shots. I’m pretty lucky to have the teammates I do. They make some great passes. I get these weird shots, I don’t know.”

Adds Messalonskee coach Ashley Pullen, whose team reached the Eastern A semifinals last season: “She’s putting up some good numbers. I know I breathe easier when she has the ball in her hands. She’s a smart player. She’s a thinker and she anticipates really well. She sets the tone foe the team. She’s just a great athlete.”

Fischang is part of a dangerous Messalonskee midfield that includes Mikayla Turner and Kristen Kern.

“She has a sneaky shot,” Messalonskee senior attacker/midfielder Sydney Gagne says of Fischang.

She is also one of the fastest runners on the team.

“I love running,” she says. “I run cross country, and that’s been the best thing for me. I love running the midfield. I love running up and down the field; it’s my favorite thing. I am a little crazy.”

Fischang is also an accomplished swimmer. She enjoyed a standout winter season in the pool, helping the 200 medley relay team win the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class A title. She also enjoyed podium finishes in the 100-meter freestyle and 200 freestyle races at the Class A championship meet.

She says swimming and running cross country helped her lacrosse game.

“In my other sports, swimming and cross country, I stepped up this year,” she said. “I’ve become more confident in those sports and I relate those sports to lacrosse. They are all very tough. You have to be strong mentally. It’s nice having that new confidence in myself. It’s been there, maybe not pushed aside, but I’m more cautious. This year, it’s come out from inside me. I’m more confident

Adds Pullen: “Ally is a quiet leader. She disciplined because of the other sports she does. She just leads by example.”

Fischang says she will attend Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont, in the fall. She will swim for the Purple Knights, who compete in Division II.

In the meantime, Fischang and the rest of the Eagles have their sights set on another deep playoff run.

“We’re a very skilled team this year,” Fischang says. “We have a lot of returning players who know how to step it up. They know the level of intensity that is needed in lacrosse. As a senior group, we’ve had to step up. We lost some good players so we’ve had to step up and be that confident. We have a good team and we want to go far.”

Bill Stewart — 621-5618 | bstewart@centralmaine.com | Twitter: @billstewartmtm

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