Sarah Woods scores lone goal of competitive Waldo County battle
THORNDIKE — If a time traveler arrived at the field hockey space at Mount View High School on Saturday morning, Oct. 10, said person would have witnessed competitive stick action between Belfast and the host Mustangs, and thought all the marbles were on the table.
As citizens — and fellow high school athletic fans — of the crazy year 2020, because of a limited schedule due to the coronavirus no "official" marbles were up for grabs, save for bragging rights between two historical Waldo County rival schools.
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The Lions (6-0) and Mustangs (4-1) played their hardest, despite no usual Heal Points and postseason berths on the line, as Belfast's offense notched the game's lone goal late in the first half to give the visitors a 1-0 victory.
Sarah Woods caged the only goal for the visitors with less than 25 seconds to play before halftime.
"Mount View played us very tough like I knew they would," said Belfast coach Jan Holmes-Jackson. "We came out a little hesitant, but made some adjustments and I felt like we blocked it up very well and started playing our game."
"I thought we played really well," said Mount View coach Gloria Hewett. "Belfast beat us 8-0 last year, so with a 1-0 game we were in the game. My mid[fielders] needed to play a little tighter to the offense and my offense needed to pass the ball, dodge a little more and get it to the right side more. I have a lot of scorers on my front line, and we've scored a lot in other games."
Lion goalie Madison Shorey stopped the only Mustang shot she faced, while Ella Sawyer stopped 11 shots in the cage for Mount View.
Belfast held a 15-1 advantage in penalty corners.
The Lions' offense dominated the majority of the four-quarter, 60-minute contest, notably in the second half, but Mount View's defense hung tough and allowed its offense to try and notch the equalizer.
"I keep the good players in the back, especially against a team that has always been stronger these last few years," said Hewett. "I have a lot of speed in my left-back. She's really fast and controls a lot of balls on the left side, and brings them out.
"My right side mid[fielder] stopped a goal and carried it out wide. [My players] know to keep their sticks on the ground, carry the ball out, instead of whacking at it, and keep their stick on [the ball]."
"We had some bad bounces [down in the offense end]," said Holmes-Jackson. "At the half we talked about our adjustments and finding the open space, and trying to work our passing game."
Through six games the Lions have yet to allow a goal, and have outscored opponents 31-0, while the Mustangs, even with the loss to Belfast, have outscored opponents 22-2 in five contests.
In normal fall high school athletic seasons, Belfast plays in Class B North and Mount View in Class C North, and the Lions and Mustangs annually challenge for regional supremacy and, in some years, the state title.