Going into this field hockey season, everyone knew about Winslow’s defense, led by goalie Delaney Wood and returning backs Brooke Haskell, Alyssa Wood, Ciera Poulin and Katie Smith.
But another big reason the Black Raiders are 11-0-1 and in first place in the Eastern C Heal points is their offense. Winslow has scored 37 goals in 13 games, and 13 over the last four.
“We’ve been working a lot — a lot, a lot, a lot, a lot — on ball movement up the field, and once we get into the circle, holding our spots and being ready for the rebound,” Winslow coach Mary Beth Bourgoin said.
Early in the season, returners Sarah Wildes and Mackenzie Winslow were doing the bulk of the scoring. Lately, they’ve been joined by players like Natalie Greene, Jessica Greeley and Miranda Gagne.
“I think what I’ve got is some girls who are gaining confidence as the season goes on,” Bourgoin said, “and offensively, taking risks that they weren’t taking at the beginning of the season.”
• • •
Mt. Blue opened its season with back-to-back losses to Lawrence and Skowhegan by a combined score of 9-1. Lately, the Cougars are looking like a team that can give anyone in the state a good game. They had won six in a row before Tuesday’s 1-0 loss to Skowhegan.
“We’re attacking the ball,” Mt. Blue coach Jody Harmon said. “We’re moving. We’re cutting. Our first few games, we were flat. We were kind of passive. We’re no longer being passive.”
Harmon said the game against Skowhegan was “an intense game right from the start.”
“We had three really good chances to score in the first half,” she said. “We had a shot in the last 10 seconds that could have tied it.”
Jenna Bullen has taken well to a new position after switching from right midfielder to center back this season, and Harmon especially likes how well Bullen works with center midfielder Taylor Hollingdale. On offense, Mt. Blue has several threats, including first-year varsity players like Sam Ellis, Jordyn Lawrence and Abby Wallace.
“The biggest thing is, they’re always willing to do what it takes for the team,” Harmon said. “We’ve talked a lot about roles, and I think that’s helped a lot.”
• • •
The Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference championship games are scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 16 at Thomas College, with a rain date of Oct. 17. The KVAC is using the “crossover” format again this year, which means the No. 2 team in Class A will face the No. 2 team in Class B, followed by the No. 1 teams in each class in the championship game.
The runner-up game is slated for 5 p.m., with the championship game following at approximately 6:30. The seedings are determined by Heal points.
Although Winslow, Mount View and Maine Central Institute compete in Eastern C, they are considered part of the KVAC B. As of Wednesday evening, Winslow and Gardiner had the most points among KVAC B teams, while Lawrence, Skowhegan, and Messalonskee are close as the top three teams in the KVAC A.
The Mountain Valley Conference championship game is also scheduled for Oct. 16. That game will be played at 3:30 p.m., at St. Dominic. Oak Hill has the most points among MVC teams.
Matt DiFilippo — 861-9243
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