Injuries and a tough Class B schedule have limited Mount View this season, but the Mustangs remain in the Class C North tournament picture in sixth place and 6-6 following a 3-1 victory over Morse on Tuesday.

The team began with 16 players, including four freshmen, and later lost two to a concussion and another to injury. The Mustangs played Morse with 14 players, including a backup goalie, yet have been in nearly every game.

“I feel we’re a stronger team now,” coach Gloria Hewett said.

The Mustangs have received predictable performances from seniors Reanna Boulay and McKenna Gibbs and have also received an unexpected boost from junior goalie Alexis Bowman.

“She’s doing well,” Hewett said. “She’s made a lot of kick saves.”

Bowman stopped 25 shots in a 2-1 loss to unbeaten Gardiner and is a big reason the Mustangs are in nearly every game.

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“She’s very aggressive,” Hewett said. “She’s a confident goalie. Last year she was a lot less confident.”

The Mustangs finish the regular season next Tuesday against top-ranked Maine Central Institute.

“That will be the game of the century,” Hewett said.

• • •

Although central Maine field hockey fans may have not taken particular note of Messalonskee sophomore Autumn Littlefield, many of those in the know have been watching.

Littlefield recently committed to play for Boston College after a successful run on the Maine Majestix team this summer. The center back played on the U16 Majestix National Club championship team and was named to the Junior Olympic team. Littlefield was also named top 50 in the nation for the Class of 2019 by Max Field Hockey.

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“Colleges seem to be recruiting a lot earlier,” Messalonskee coach Katie McLaughlin said. “It’s exciting.”

McLaughlin has seen enough of Littlefield to recognize her as Division I talent.

“She is so strong and she has so much speed,” McLaughlin said. “She never gives up on a play and her drives are really strong. They’re a component on corners and on defense as well.”

The Eagles have another Division 1 recruit on their team in midfielder Ally Corbett, who will attend St. Joseph’s University next fall. Corbett recently returned to the field and she’s made a decided difference for the 10-2 Eagles.

“She’s feeling pretty good now and confident,” McLaughlin said.

The Eagles finish the regular season at Cony on Thursday, followed by the finale at home against rival Skowhegan on Tuesday under the lights at Thomas College. McLaughlin said her team is finally healthy and rounding into form.

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“We have not had the same starters two games in a row,” she said. “It has made our bench stronger. We’re coming together at the right time.”

• • •

Since losing 3-0 to Oak Hill, Winthrop (9-1-1) has reeled off six straight victories while outscoring opponents 24-1. The teams meet again Wednesday at Carrie Ricker Middle School in Litchfield at 3:30 p.m. Oak Hill is 10-1 and both teams are loaded with veteran talent.

“We’ve cleaned up a lot of small things,” Winthrop coach Jess Merrill said. “The girls are confident and taking a lot more risks.”

Merrill said her team got caught in transition a couple of times in losing to the Raiders on the turf at Thomas College.

“They caught us off guard a lot,” Merrill said. “We were slow with our rotation. We’ve really been working on the defensive end.”

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Merrill has enough confidence in goalie Corinna Coulton that she’s front-loaded her offense, putting four players up front with two offensive midfielders behind them.

“It’s almost like playing a six-person front,” she said. “It’s kind of like a diamond in the middle of the field.”

Emily Molino is coming into her own as a scorer but, as Merrill points out, nine different players have scored for the Ramblers, who have already doubled their output from last season.

Each team is loaded with seniors and led by all-state candidates — Oak Hill by Lexi Fuller and Winthrop by Kate Hajduk.

• • •

Belfast travels to Gardiner on Thursday with first place on the line in Class B North. Both teams are unbeaten, Belfast at 11-0 and Gardiner at 12-0. Both also contrast in styles. The visiting Lions like to run while the Tigers are a little more defensive-minded. Gardiner won the battle last year in what coach Sharon Gallant called “probably our best game of the year.”

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Belfast is led by first-team all-state selection Kylie Nelson, also a track star and one of the fastest players from end to end. Nelson, who broke the school scoring record of 48 career goals last season, will play at Division I Bryant University next fall.

“We’ll keep track of her,” said Gallant, noting the Lions have several good players. “They always come with a good game plan.”

The Tigers received balanced scoring this season led by junior Hailee Lovely and sophomore Jillian Bisson. Lovely has a “rocket shot and likes to use it,” Gallant said, while Bisson has become much more effective after being moved to the left side of the forward line.

“She has great hand-eye coordination,” Gallant said. “She’s a softball player.”

Maddie Walker and Sarah Morgan have contributed on offense along with Skye Lavoie, but the strength of the team has been its defense which has allowed just three goals in 12 games.

“My three backs and my three middies work very well together,” Gallant said. “It’s so unexpected for us to be here. They just want to play well.”


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