WATERVILLE — Dejected wasn’t among the terms that could be used to describe Gardiner coach Sharon Gallant after her team fell to York in the Class B field hockey championship, 2-1, on Saturday.

Relieved certainly was among the fitting descriptions of York star sophomore, Lily Posternak.

Taking a cue from her players that the Tigers’ season had already surpassed expectations, Gallant took the loss in stride.

“When my kids play that well, it’s hard to really be unhappy,” Gallant said.

In its first season under Gallant, a longtime assistant who stepped up to the head coaching role when Moe McNally retired after 35 years, Gardiner cast itself in an underdog role long before meeting the unbeaten Wildcats.

“We’re not even supposed to be here, so for them, it’s like frosting,” Gallant said. “My captains (seniors Lillian Chepke and Abigail Dyer) said right from the get-go that if we do anything today, we want it to be fun. Just enjoy, relax and have fun and play the game the way that we can. And I think we did that.”

One of the things that tempered the coach’s disappointment was the solid job her defense did on Posternak.

Posternak is one of the top players in the state, a member of the USA Field Hockey U-17 national team and a supreme stick handler capable of controlling a game on her own. Her skills were on display Saturday, and although she didn’t get on the score sheet, she had an indirect hand in both of York’s goals and played a major role in their overwhelming advantage in penalty corners (15-6). But Gallant was happy with how the Tigers defended her nonetheless.

“She’s good. I in all honesty don’t think she played up to what she’s been billed as being,” Gallant said. “I thought my midfield handled her pretty well. We added an extra person. We tried to face her from the 25-and-under. I think she controlled the middle of the field pretty well but as far as under the 25, I don’t think she was (controlling it).”

Posternak seemed more impressed with the Tigers’ offense than their defense, which hadn’t allowed a goal in the playoffs before Saturday. Asked if they had done anything differently to try to contain her, she complimented their ball movement instead.

Mostly, though, she was glad the Wildcats weren’t going to have to hear about how they’d only won one of their previous eight trips to the championship game.

“We broke the curse,” she said. “It’s been awhile since we won a championship (2008), so it’s definitely a really good feeling.”

Randy Whitehouse — 621-5638

rwhitehouse@mainetoday.com

Twitter: @RAWmaterial33

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