Cheverus, Belfast, Winthrop-Maranacook nab state field hockey titles
By Larry Mahoney, Bangor Daily News Staff
Cheverus High School of Portland, Belfast and Winthrop/Maranacook captured state field hockey championships at Edward Little High School in Auburn on Saturday, Nov. 9.
Cheverus claimed its third state Class A title in four years with a 3-1 victory over Brewer, which was making its first ever state championship game appearance; Belfast earned a 2-1 win over Yarmouth in the first round of penalty corners for its first B title since 2011 and Winthrop/Maranacook captured its fourth consecutive C title, 2-1 over Dexter/Central in the first round of penalty corners.
DEXTER FIELD HOCKEY — Front, from left, Maddisyn Davis, Waverly Rich, Abagail Trafton, Mellesse Grant, Sunny Bache, Jamie Williams, Shelby Sinclair, Ella-marie Buschmann, and Makenzie Curtis. Second row, Lily Wintle, Danica Derocco, Olyvia Watson, Hannah Derosier, Genevieve Rich, Aubrey Ladd, Kallie Stone, and Chloe Murdock. Third row, Preslee Dow, Brianna Vafiades, McKenzie Clay, Brooklyn Dow, Lexi Vafiades, Fannie Patel, and Keira Bennett. Back, head coach Brittany McAllister, Kaitlyn Cookson, Alexis York, and coach Kristy Staples.
In the A final, Lucy Johnson, the state’s all-time leading scorer, notched her 149th and 150th goals of her career as Cheverus concluded an 18-0 campaign with its 36th straight win.
Sydney Brunelle opened the scoring for Cheverus and Johnson made it 2-0.
Syrina Zavala cut the lead in half for Brewer off a Paige Oakes pass but Johnson restored the two-goal lead.
Brewer finished up a 15-3 campaign.
In B, Halle Tarbox converted a Payten Wadsworth pass in the first round of penalty corners after neither team scored in overtime.
Erica O’Connor staked Yarmouth to a 1-0 lead but Wadsworth equalized off a Jocelyn Valleau assist.
Belfast wound up 17-1 while Yarmouth, playing in its first state final since 1995 when it won the Class C title, wound up 16-2.
In Class C, Winthrop/Maranacook capped an 18-0 season as Madeleine Wagner decided it in overtime.
Sophie Shuman staked the Ramblers to a 1-0 lead but Lexi Vafiades tied for Dexter/Central.
Winthrop/Maranacook had beaten Dexter/Central 2-1 in last year’s final.
Dexter/Central finished at 16-2.
Dexter/Central advanced to the state final with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over rival Foxcroft Academy in the C North final at Cony High School in Augusta on Nov. 6 as Preslee Dow answered Emma McGary’s third-quarter goal with a tying goal in the fourth quarter and then scored the game-winner in overtime.