GARDINER — An early goal gave the Nokomis field hockey team an early lead Thursday in a key late-season Class B North clash.

The rest of the game was about defense — one of the things the Warriors do best and the factor that saw them through to a big-time road victory.

Addison Hawthorne’s goal less than five minutes in was all Nokomis needed to secure a 1-0 victory over Gardiner at Hoch Field. The Warriors limited the Tigers to only a few chances the rest of the way and didn’t allow a single shot on target in the second half.

“We’ve worked hard on becoming a good defensive team,” Hawthorne said. “Tonight, we knew they were a very skilled team; they were quick, and they have really good stickwork, so we knew we had to send the ball up the field to our open players whenever we got it, and we didn’t play around.”

Nokomis (11-1-1) controlled possession in the Gardiner half early in the game, and took advantage quickly on Hawthorne’s opening goal. The junior scored unassisted on a shot from the left side to the bottom-right corner that took a slight deflection off a Gardiner stick.

Nokomis’ Addison Hawthorne tries to get the ball past Gardiner’s Macy Hickey during a field hockey game Thursday in Gardiner. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

The visitors had another good chance late in the first quarter, but an excellent save by Gardiner’s Natasha Marshall kept the score at 1-0. The Tigers and Warriors then exchanged sustained periods of offensive pressure in the second quarter, but neither team could find the cage. 

“We had a few opportunities, but they definitely did a good job of controlling the ball in their defensive end when we had it in the offensive end,” said Gardiner head coach Jess Merrill. “They kept their sticks down more, and we had a hard time breaking that down and finishing.”

Nokomis exerted that control even more in the second half as Gardiner, try as it might, couldn’t put a stick to the ball in a threatening manner. Alaina Donahue and Abbie Reynolds in particular stymied the Tigers offensively with Myia SeeHusen, who recently moved from forward to left back, also snuffing out Gardiner attacks.

Nokomis has now allowed just six goals in its 13 games this season and has gone four straight games without conceding one. This defensive effort came on the back of another solid showing on that end in Tuesday’s 0-0 draw against a Cony team averaging 6.6 goals per game in its other 12 contests.

“That game against Cony really saw our defense really get tested,” said Nokomis head coach Shaunessy Saucier. “We’re doing a great job defending high up the field and counterattacking. We also work hard at tackling and making sure our tackles are clean so that we don’t give away silly corners.”

Eliya Drummond made four saves for Nokomis, three of which came in the second quarter. Marshall made six saves in a strong goaltending effort for Gardiner, which saw its regular season come to an end with a loss after key wins last Friday against Winthrop and Tuesday against Leavitt.

Gardiner senior Bri Smith runs along a line of youth field hockey players getting high fives during senior night festivities before her last regular season home field hockey game Thursday in Gardiner. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

The result yielded major Heal points for Nokomis, which now has a chance (albeit small) to overtake Cony for second place depending on how both teams’ final games shake out. For Gardiner, though, the loss meant a likely road game for the regional quarterfinals after Leavitt beat Maine Central Institute earlier in the day.

“We really don’t want to play on grass going away, but it’s looking that way right now,” said Merrill, whose team entered the day fourth in Class B North. “Regardless of what happens, it’s a good experience for them going forward. We’re a young team, and if we’re on, we’re on. It’s just a matter of finding that consistency.”

It won’t be an easy playoff run for either team — not in a Class B North this loaded. Between unbeaten Belfast, one-loss Cony and a 10-win Leavitt team that’s given the region fits, some tough battles lie ahead for Nokomis, Gardiner or whatever team hopes to challenge for a Northern Maine title.

The Warriors, though, have the defense to get there. Just as Nokomis has a challenge in whatever top team it will inevitably end up facing, their opponents, too, will have a tough time breaking down a back line that emphasizes strong tackling and can turn key defensive plays into scoring chances with just a few passes.

“I think tackling is the big thing for us right now; our tackles are on point, and they’re never sloppy,” Hawthorne said. “We made some great tackles tonight, and I think that’s definitely a key role in how we’re such a good defensive team. If we keep doing that, we’ll be all right.”

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