Postgame interviews with Dexter junior Kassandra Gray and coach Brittany McAllister.
DEXTER– The Dexter Tigers field hockey team didn’t score a goal against Mount View for 144 minutes and 31 seconds this season. The Tigers scored two goals in the final 35 minutes and 29 seconds on Saturday morning to defeat the Mustangs 2-1 in a class C Northern Maine semifinal game.
Brianna Tripp gave Mount View a 1-0 lead 11:26 into the contest. The Mustangs dominated the first half, outshooting Dexter 11-2. Kassandra Gray took one of those two Tigers first half shots and it ended up in the back of the goal to even the score at one with 5:29 left in the half.
The Tigers had a great chance with 23:00 remaining in the second half but the Mount View defense and keeper Thurston Illingsworth came up big to keep the game even.
Dexter converted the game winning goal when freshman Kiana Bennett took a pass from Gray with 4:44 remaining and put it past the Mustangs keeper.
Tory Asbury and Cheyenne Beem each had one assist for the Tigers. Amanda Haskell and the Dexter defense came up huge, especially in the first half when Mount View put on continuous pressure. Dexter (12-4) lost 2-0 and 3-0 against the Mustangs during the regular season. The Tigers have won 11 of their last 12 games as they head into a regional final clash with Winthrop on Tuesday at Thomas College.
Dexter will hope third time is a charm just as it was against Mount View. Winthrop has defeated the Tigers in the tournament in each of the last two seasons, including in a regional final game last season. This is the 10th regional final trip for the Tigers in the last 12 years. Mount View finishes the season with a record of 10-6.
