New Dexter field hockey squad and coach prepare to defend North title

By Matt Junker, Bangor Daily News Sports Editor

DEXTER — The Dexter Regional High School High School field hockey team has a new coach and a different lineup as it prepares to defend its Class C North title this fall. But don’t expect the group to have different expectations.

Former Dexter player Peyton Watson has taken over the team, and she expects her squad to be competitive despite losing some key seniors to graduation last year. 

“We’re not going to lay down and be an easy win for anybody, so I’m very excited,” Watson said during practice on Aug. 28. 

“The emphasis is still, we want to win,” Watson added. “Let’s not get that confused.”

She takes over the high school program after previously serving as the middle school coach, and is excited to lead a group of players that she already knows well. 

“They had a really strong group of seniors last year,” Watson said. “They’re doing it so far. I’m very happy with how that’s going.”

The coaching staff expects seniors Genevieve Rich and Chloe Murdock to be among the Tigers who will need to play larger roles this season. 

Rich acknowledged that there’s “a lot of pressure, obviously” following last year’s success and the loss of six starters, 

“But we’ve got a lot of new people on the field, and we feel a lot better,” Rich said. 

Murdock said she thinks communication will be key for the Tigers this year. 

“I feel like we have a pretty good community here. We have a lot of returning players, so we know each other. We know how we play, how we tick,” Murdock said. “So I feel like communication is definitely something we need to work on, but I also am confident that we’ll be able to grow.” 

Freshman goalie Bella Wallace says she feels nervous stepping up to replace former netminder Sunny Bache, who is now a freshman on the University of Southern Maine field hockey team.

But Wallace’s coaches and teammates are confident in the first year goalie and ready for her to assert herself in net. 

And while there’s a new coaching staff on the bench, the players already know them well. 

“I’ve known these kids since second grade, first grade, third grade, playing all the way through,” said assistant coach Kacie Ponti, who joined Watson in making the jump from the middle school coaching staff. “I’ve watched them grow up. I’ve watched them improve.”

The players say that they have a new head coach who is almost like a friend, not just a coach, but she still holds them accountable  . 

“We can joke with her, but we can’t joke too much,” Rich said. 

“We know when to laugh, and we also know when to focus,” Murdock added. 

The familiarity makes it feel like a full circle moment for the coaching staff. 

“This has been the end goal for me when I started coaching middle school,” Watson said. “I played for Dexter, so I know the traditions that go along with being here. I’ve always wanted to be at this level, so to actually be here, it’s exciting.”

The Tigers program isn’t trying to be last year’s team, but they are striving for the same results. 

“It’s different, and I think it’s exciting that it’s different,” said Ponti. “But it’s still going to be successful.”