Falcon stickers ease past Rebels

RUMFORD -- There might not be a lot of experience, however, the Mountain Valley field hockey team certainly relied on a team effort in its season-opening game.

Nicole Burgess recoded a hat trick with three goals and Aly Carlton scored twice to supply the offense, while the defense held firm as the Lady Falcons knocked off Telstar by 6-1 at Hosmer Field. The playing surface, marked across the baseball outfield, was lush and smooth, led to a fast-paced game.

Mountain Valley swept Telstar in two games last year.

Only three players are veterans,”said coach Melissa Forbes, referring to Burgess, Payton Provencher and Lexi Fryover. “Hopefully, I've put them in the right areas where they will be the most effective.”

MV started out pressuring the ball and it paid off, with Provencher scoring four minutes and 11 seconds into the game. Provencer shot went by the left foot of Telstar goalie Meg Glover.

Four Falcon goals resulted from penalty corners. Once the ball went in the offensive circle, the players capitalized. Burgess (assist) scored the eventual winning goal on a reverse stick that found the far left corner of the cage with 9:25 remaining in the first half.

"I liked what saw and heard," said Forbes. "They were communicating with each other and getting in better positioning. During halftime, they were saying where they wanted the ball leading them. It's going to be a process.''

The Falcons scored three unanswered goals in second half. Carlton banged home her first goal off a rebound at 25:01. Burgess also scored off a rebound and Carlton drilled the ball home off a full rush.

Forbes had moved Kayla Pingress back to the second line and put freshman Alexys Duguay (two assists) on right wing.

Telstar had a difficult time getting by midfield, with Taylor Dickson, Nicole Couch and Fryover (assist). The Falcons defense proved to be stout when it was tested, led by new goalie Vanessa Swett, Addy Gorham and Erin Hall. They stepped right up and sent the loose balls back down to the first and second lines again.

Telstar averted the shutout when Savana Patenaude scored in waning moments.

"We are just very young," said Telstar coach Gail Wight, with just four seniors. "The girls still need to learn skills and right now we have been working on dodging the ball."