WINTHROP — When Messalonskee and Winthrop faced off in a field hockey game Friday night, it didn’t feel like a Class A vs. Class C matchup.

The Class A Eagles outshot the Class C Ramblers 6-1 in the first half but were unable to score. Messalonskee finally broke through in the third quarter on its way to a 2-0 victory.

“That’s not a tough loss,” Winthrop coach Melissa Perkins said. “I’ve got 14 kids and we’re a Class C school playing a top-10 Class A school. I don’t know how you can’t take that as a win.”

The Eagles improved to 7-1, while the Ramblers fell to 5-2.

Winthrop hung in thanks to goalie Cyara Harriman making saves on six Messalonskee corners.

Messalonskee coach Riley Field told her team to focus on defense Friday, knowing they would produce offensive when they needed to.

“(At half), I told them to make some more moves on defenders,” Field said. “We noticed that Winthrop has a very high press, so we don’t have time to touch the ball. We need to be a little more deceptive with our first touch and what we’re going to do with the ball.”

A game of endurance

Senior Chloe Masse gave the Eagles the lead with 9:21 left in the third quarter, with an assist from Addie Hafford.

“I think it was just like a big team effort,” Masse said. “We had a really good passing game, and I think it was just luck of the moment.”

Masse said Friday’s game involved a lot of speed and required a lot of endurance. That generated opportunities for the Eagles to find open gaps.

Hafford added an insurance goal with 6:36 left in the game.

“I think our team is pretty in shape, but we did practice a lot during preseason, doing drills to make sure we have the endurance to keep up during that game,” Hafford said. “We knew coming into the game they were going to be a stronger team and our defense was back and forth through the whole thing. But, at halftime, when we talked about it, we really got our heads in the game to work on it.”

Statistical leaders

• Messalonskee: Addie Hafford (one goal, one assist), Chloe Masse (one goal)

• Winthrop: Cyara Harriman (eight saves)

They said it

• “I think (on defense), we shined a little bit brighter tonight because we knew that we had to really step up and that had to be our focus.” — Melissa Perkins, Winthrop coach

• “Addie has averaged, I would say, at least a goal a game. At this point, she’s just a powerhouse. She’s the kind of kid that has a knack for the goal; she just knows how to put the ball, where to put the ball, and where to be at the right time. She has a natural talent. Chloe is just like a bull, she’ll get through anything, and when she gets a shot off, you definitely don’t want to be in her way.” — Riley Field, Messalonskee coach