DEXTER– Getting off to a quick start and converting corners is a key in any field hockey game. The Dexter Tigers did both of those things in a 5-0 Maine Principals’ Association class C north quarterfinal victory over Mattanawcook on Tuesday afternoon.
Hayley Rossman got things started for the Tigers just 1:19 into the contest when she scored off an assist from Grace Belanger. The whole thing got set up on the first of 15 corners for Dexter.
“Having a good start I think is the most important thing to us, it just drives us,”Belanger said. “The last half hour, 45 minutes of practice we work on corners. That is what we strive for.”
With 17:32 remaining in the first half, Kaitlyn Webber scored an unassisted goal to make it 2-0.
“My teams are better when they score right off, for some reason they play better and relax. That is exactly what happened. They scored and scored again, they relaxed,”Dexter coach Margaret Veazie said. “That is how they played all summer and they were phenomenal all summer. They finally got it back to that, I am happy for them.”
Belanger gave the Tigers a 3-0 lead on an assist from Abby Webber with 31.4 seconds left in the first half. The three goal lead was a huge mountain to climb against a Tigers team that recorded seven shutouts during the regular season. The only game they allowed more than two goals was early in the season against class B top seed Foxcroft Academy.
The Tigers had their first week of practice with a full squad and they showed how good they can be when all are healthy.
“It is only the second game all season we have been at full strength. The last game of the season, we finally had everybody together,”Veazie said. “Now, we had a week of practice with everyone together. They really showed what they can do.”
Rebecca Batron and Belanger scored unassisted goals in the second half for the Tigers. Veazie has got senior leadership all season from Belanger, Abby Webber, Kilee Lewis, Morgann Wyman, Alyssa Brasier, Hannah Farrar, and Megan Peach. Webber will be playing at the University of Maine next season. Wyman has stepped up recently.
“We all know Abby (Webber) is our number one player and going to Maine and we love her,”Veazie said. “The one I am noticing the most right now is Morgann Wyman. She is started to play intense and hard. It is amazing.”
The second seed Tigers (13-2) will host Winthrop in a semifinal game on Friday or Saturday. Winthrop defeated Mount View 3-1 in their quarterfinal game on Tuesday.
“I went to see them (Winthrop) play. They have good athletes,”Veazie said. “It will be a good game. Winthrop and Dexter will always be a good game.”
Peach stopped the only shot that came her way. Madison Page had five saves on 12 shots in goal for the Lynx. Mattanawcook finishes the season with a 6-9 record. For the field hockey tournament scoreboard and schedule click here.
