Falcon stickers edged in prelim

RUMFORD -- There was high expectations filtered around the Mountain Valley field hockey team entering its Class B preliminary playoff game and the performance was hard fought. But the results ended the 2012 campaign prematurely as Yarmouth won the game 3-2 Saturday afternoon at Hosmer Field.

Alexys Duguay of the No. 8 Lady Falcons converted a Nicole Burgess pass with 3:47 left in regulation to send the contest into overtime. The teams were reduced to playing seven-on-seven which opened up the playing surface.

No. 9 Yarmouth went on the offensive and was awarded a penalty corner, Kallie Hutchinson took a slap from just in side the top of the circle and the ball deflected off a Falcon defender, flew in the air past goalie Vanessa Swett's shoulder and hit the upper lefthand corner of the cage.

"It was a battle,” said Mountain Valley coach Melissa Forbes, who saw the Falcons beat Wells in a prelim game last year.

"There was no quit in the kids and I was especially pleased to see them tie it up."

Mountain Valley entered the game with wanting to prove themselves after losing to Spruce Mountain in the regular season finale.

"I felt they had gotten out of position," said Forbes, referring to an incident during warmups that sent Kayla Pingree to the hospital with a possible broken finger after being hit by teammate Payton Provencher. "I had to shuffle players around. Then Taylor (Dickson) had to come out with a cut lip. JV player Smantha Blanchard and Maddy Kaubrys saw playing time."

Mountain Valley had drawn first blood when Burgess corralled the rebound and tapped the ball over to Provencher, who scored with 22:52 in the first half. MV had dominated the play at times and had chances. Burgess set up Nicole Couch, but her shot went wide left. Burgess and Duguay shots was stoned by the Yarmouth goalie.

MV FBs Makenzie Gallant and Addy Gorham and Sw Ellie Hall cleared balls out of the zone. Swett made eight saves.

"I felt my seniors showed good leadership," said Forbes, regarding Alexa Fryover, Provencher and Burgess, who were advancing balls into the circle.

Yarmouth had tied the score on a goal by Emma Peterson with 7:55 left in the first half. The Clippers gained momentum and Peterson drilled home a shot early in the second half.

“The girls exceeded my expectations," said Forbes.