Falcon stickers slip past Cougars

RUMFORD -- When Dirigo and Mountain Valley battle in field hockey, it's imperative that players will put their best sticks forward.

That was clearly evident Saturday afternoon on homecoming at rainy Hosmer Field.

Senior Alexa Fryover pushed across a goal with 2:49 left in overtime as the Lady Falcons triumphed 2-1 against determined Dirigo.

Neither team could afford to take the other lightly and with good reason, but both benefitted from its respective goalies. Venessa Swett of MV and Amanda Dolloff of Dirigo each needed to be on guard in order to make numerous spectacular saves in the energized action.

In the extra session, the pace increased even more because the each team had been reduced to playing seven on seven. MV was awarded a penalty corner and Fryover needed to wait until the ball went beyond the circle prior to touching it.

"I just pushed it forward and was hoping it would go in," said Fryover, referring to the ball avoiding Dolloff. "Dirigo is very competitive. We know their players and they know us, plus we're friends. It's also fun seeing their moves."

Dirigo had forced the OT on a Emma Lueders goal with 8:11 left in regulation. Off a pealty corner, Kelsey Wilson sent a crossing pass and Lueders one-timed it home.

"It took awhile for us to get going," said Fryover, regarding the scoreless contest at halftime. "There was a lot going on because besides homecoming, it was also senior day (Brest Cancer awareness), so we needed to settle into the action."

On several Falcon rushes, it was the Cougar defense, Megan Brann, Britney Ellis, Lexi Noyes, along with Ellie Wainwright and Grace Hebert, who stayed busy. MV's pressure eventually highlighted, coming out of a time out. Nicole Burgess rushed in on the right post and crossed a pass over to Alexys Duguay. The freshman flicked a shot into the cage before Dolloff could rotate over with 13:05 to play.

"On long hits, I just wanted my forwards going toward the cage," said Mountain Valley coach Melissa Forbes, regarding the Falcons, who beat Dirigo 2-0 last month in Dixfield. “They need to be passing with a purpose.”

The Falcons also received strong play by defenders Makenzie Gallant, Addy Gorham and Sw Ellie Hall.