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HAMPDEN — An unbeaten season continues for the Foxcroft Academy field hockey team — as does the Ponies’ quest to extend a cycle that feels like destiny.

Starting in 2007, Foxcroft has claimed the Class C state title every six years, winning in 2013 and 2019 as well. The 2025 season just happens to align with that pattern — and now, a Ponies team that continued a season of dominance with its first piece of hardware is one game from another crown.

Foxcroft defeated Maine Central Institute 5-1 to win the C North championship Thursday at Hampden Academy’s Weatherbee Complex. The win sends the Ponies to Saturday’s state final at Lewiston High School against C South champ Spruce Mountain.

“It’s time; it’s been a little while (since we’ve been in a state championship game), and we’re happy to be back there,” said Foxcroft coach Davan Walker. “It’s a great feeling. Everyone is really excited, and they’re ready to go out there again Saturday and get it.”

Although MCI looked to be the stronger side over the opening two minutes, Foxcroft soon found itself on the front foot. The top-seeded Ponies (17-0) took the lead with 10:26 to go in the first quarter, courtesy of Ava Dunton, who received a pass from Ella Hutchinson and fired home a shot for the opening goal.

“We love to score early,” Dunton said. “It gets us fired up early and makes us push even harder.”

No. 3 MCI (10-7) seemed to recover after falling behind and nearly scored with about a minute and a half remaining in the opening quarter. Yet it was Foxcroft that grabbed the next goal, as Addie Rayfield scored with 1.6 seconds left in the quarter.

A Jenna Hartford goal with 1:53 left in the second gave the Ponies a 3-0 halftime lead.

Audrey Baker scored for MCI with 9:38 left in the third quarter, but exactly two minutes later, Rayfield got her second of the game to restore Foxcroft’s three-goal lead. Dunton then rounded out the scoring with her second goal with 3:15 left in the third.

“We’re just kind of making sure that we’re always on top and always ahead, and it kind of gave us a boost,” Rayfield said. “It was about really being positive throughout this whole week, getting it done in practice and coming here knowing that we had the ability to win.”

Foxcroft registered 14 shots on goal to MCI’s three. Chloe Knowles made nine saves for the Huskies, while Lili Bisson made three for the Ponies. Foxcroft had seven penalty corners — all in the first half — to MCI’s one.

Foxcroft’s success this season has come despite having just two seniors on the roster, Emma McGary and Jaiyde True. The Ponies, Walker said, have a confidence unlike a typical underclassman-heavy group, and Dunton said the team’s commitment has helped it overcome its youth.

“Our connection on and off the field is so close,” Dunton said. “We started this season (with summer field hockey) back in June, and all the way up until now, we’ve just worked so hard, all of us together.”

This was the second matchup of the season between Foxcroft and MCI, after the Ponies defeated the Huskies 5-0 on Sept. 11. Walker expected a tougher game this time, and although MCI made pushes forward and even found the cage, Foxcroft was still in control throughout.

“We knew that MCI had improved over the course of the season, and we knew that they were going to come out strong and fight all the way,” Walker said. “We just knew that the girls had to stand their ground, and they came out here tonight and did that.”