WATERVILLE — Chaos.

That’s what Kristen Murray saw all around her: bodies, sticks, arms, legs. Somehow she kept her cool, and Scarborough High won the Class A field hockey state championship.

Photo Gallery

Related Headlines

• York field hockey wins Class B state championship

Murray’s goal during a scramble with 2.1 seconds remaining lifted the Red Storm past juggernaut Skowhegan 1-0 in the final Saturday at Thomas College, ending the Indians’ latest championship reign at four years.

The victory completed an 18-0 season for Scarborough, which lost to Skowhegan in each of the last two state finals.

“This is the best possible way to end my high school career, and for the seniors on this team it means absolutely everything,” said Murray, a senior forward. “For us to play so phenomenally like we did today, we could not do anything more.

“Skowhegan is a phenomenal team, a phenomenal program, and to finally come on top, my gosh, it’s magical.”

The Indians (15-3) have won 12 of the last 14 state titles – with both losses to Scarborough. The other was in 2009.

The outcome brought tears to Red Storm Coach Kerry Mariello even before the final horn.

“I was bawling,” she said. “It’s the greatest feeling to see a group of girls that are this talented and with this caliber of all-around greatness prevail. It’s a good feeling to see that.”

Murray’s goal came as overtime seemed inevitable.

Scarborough had just survived being a player down for two minutes after Abby Walker was penalized with 2:25 remaining for violating the 5-yard cushion defensive players must allow an offensive player after a whistle has stopped play.

Instead of falling back, the Red Storm charged and produced two penalty corners in the final minute, the last resulting in the winning goal.

Ashley Levesque inserted the ball from the left of the goal to Maddy Dobecki at the top of the circle. Dobecki’s shot was stopped, and the ball bounced around the circle.

“I don’t even know what happened,” said Murray. “There was a shot, we had a rebound and there was just chaos. They were trying hard to get it out, we were trying to get it in.

“The ball popped up in front of me and I was just able to hit it in out of the air. I don’t even know how it got around (goalie Leah Kruse).”

Mariello wasn’t surprised that it was Murray who scored.

“Right place, right time,” said Mariello. “Very skilled player who pays attention to detail.”

It was an exceptionally played game, with both defenses stepping up at critical times. Scarborough controlled most of the first half, and Skowhegan had a big edge early in the second.

Scarborough sweeper Kaitlin Prince was exceptional, her block of a shot on a penalty corner in the waning minutes providing a pivotal moment for the Red Storm.

“If that had gone in, I don’t know what would have happened,” said Dobecki.

Skowhegan had an apparent goal by Renee Wright off a penalty corner disallowed with 21:30 remaining.

The lead official on that side ruled the ball never cleared the circle – which it must by rule on a penalty corner – before Wright shot it.

While Skowhegan Coach Paula Doughty didn’t agree with the call, she said her team had no reason to feel down.

“I think we played a great game and they played a great game,” she said. “It was totally back and forth. We had our chances, they had their chances. You just knew that sooner or later that was going to happen.”

But this time it was the Red Storm doing the celebrating.

“I pictured this moment for such a long time,” said Prince. “I can’t even describe it. It was better than any expectations.”

Related Stories