BIDDEFORD — Taylor Turgeon scored an unassisted goal midway through the first half Saturday morning to lift eighth-seeded Biddeford to a 1-0 win over No. 9 Deering in a Western Class A field hockey preliminary game.

Scoring opportunities were tough to come by in what was an intense defensive battle. Turgeon, a junior midfielder, scored with 18:02 left in the first half.

Though rain held off during the game, conditions were wet and slippery at Doran Field.

The Tigers (7-8) dominated possession in the first half, maintaining control of the ball primarily within their offensive zone. Deering (6-7-2) had a few chances, with two corners and two shots, but neither shot landed on goal.

Biddeford’s ability to continuously win possession led to five corners in the first half.

“Because we only have 15 players, we’re a first-half team,” Biddeford Coach Caitlin Albert said. “We want to be that first team to score and carry that momentum into the second half.”

Deering threatened a bit more in the second half, producing four corners and five shots, three of which were on goal, but the Rams couldn’t get one past Biddeford goalie Marissa Heffernan. The Tigers, meanwhile, kept Deering goalie Lillian Frager busy at the other end, forcing her to make five saves in the second half.

Biddeford advances to face top-ranked Scarborough, the two-time defending regional champion, in the quarterfinals Wednesday. Scarborough (14-0) won the regular-season meeting, 8-0, and hasn’t lost to a Western Maine opponent since 2011.

“When we see Scarborough, we need to work hard all 60 minutes,” said Albert.


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