Kara Daggett, left, of Mt. Blue chases after a ball against Zoey Gilbert of Messalonskee during a game Monday in Oakland. Dave Dyer/Kennebec Journal

OAKLAND — The Messalonskee field hockey team was in need of a victory to keep its momentum.

It didn’t come easy, but the Eagles managed to find that win on Monday night.

Addie Hafford’s goal with five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter sealed a 3-2 victory for Messalonskee over Class A North foe Mt. Blue at Veterans Field.

“We’re pretty excited, I think we worked pretty hard,” said Hafford, a senior. “Especially coming off of last week, it was a good win.”

Hafford, Sofia Ventimiglia and Elsie Bell each tallied goals for the Eagles (7-3). It was a needed bounce-back victory for Messalonskee, which had recent overtime victories against Skowhegan and Brewer before falling 7-0 to Class B North contender Belfast on Friday.

“We definitely needed a win today after Friday, we came across a really good Belfast team,” Messalonskee head coach Katie Brann said. “Knowing Mt. Blue’s record, we knew it was going to be tight. It’s (a good win) for seeding, nearing the postseason.”

Kali Judkins scored both goals for the Cougars (6-3).

Hafford’s goal came off a penalty corner in a scrum in front of Mt. Blue goalie Gwen Lesperance.

“It was packed in the circle, but we always keep our sticks down, that way if (the shot) is open, it’s there,” Hafford said.

Messalonskee struck first, taking a 1-0 lead in the first quarter, when Bell snuck a shot past Lesperance from in front of the cage. The Cougars answered with back-to-back goals from Judkins, one on a hard shot from the right of the cage, another from 10 yards out, to enter halftime with a 2-1 lead.

“I knew today was going to be tough, Mt. Blue is an amazing team,” Brann said. “They’re fast, athletic. We just told the girls they have to battle, because we always expect a close game (with them).”

Ventimiglia tied the game with her goal, which came with just over four minutes remaining in the third quarter. Both teams battled into the fourth before the Eagles gained their opportunity of a penalty corner. Messalonskee had a 14-3 advantage on corners.

Both teams fought through rainy weather, which soaked the turf field and slowed ball movement considerably on the normally fast surface.

“(The weather) changes the spin on the ball, we noticed that before the game,” Brann said. “We told the girls, ‘Make sure you stop it and keep your stick on the ball, because that will change the spin.’ It plays into our strengths a little bit, because we like to play a small passing game, where your hits can get messed up when it’s this wet. That didn’t hurt us too much today.”

Mt. Blue had won three straight games before Monday night. Each of its three losses — to Skowhegan, Mt. Ararat and Messalonskee — have been by one goal. Messalonskee entered the game as the No. 3 seed in A North, while the Cougars were the No. 5 seed.

“It’s a better feeling (seeing the progression) than we had last year,” said Mt. Blue head coach Julie Lajoie. “They stayed in the fight the whole time. It’s just frustrating to be a shot away or a corner away (from a win). Hats off to (Messalonskee), they got that one more push than we did.