WATERBORO — Massabesic sophomore Emma Rutledge saw one overtime shot stopped by the crossbar. She saw another, with Cheverus keeper Kat Kane sprawled on the ground, stopped inches from the goal by the stick of Cheverus sweeper Elise Bourassa.

Finally, after nine minutes of Massabesic enjoying a seven-on-six advantage, Rutledge converted a pass from Maggie Redman to give the Mustangs a 3-2 Class A South field hockey victory in double overtime late Monday afternoon.

“That was really nerve-wracking,” Rutledge said. “Our whole team was tired. Maggie did an awesome crossover with her reverse stick. I just smacked it in.”

The Mustangs have won eight straight after dropping their first two games, by one goal each to Sanford and Scarborough (also in double overtime).

“They were so close,” Massabesic Coach Michele Martin-Moore said, “that I told the girls, ‘Don’t lose heart. You’re playing with the elites here. You don’t have two cupcakes to start the season.’ ”

Cheverus is also 8-2 after starting the season 8-0, but dropped to third in the Heal point standings behind Massabesic and Scarborough.

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“I knew we were going to be a little shaky in the beginning, because we’re kind of young,” said Massabesic keeper Kelley Wescott, who finished with 11 saves and withstood a determined surge from Cheverus late in regulation. “I know last year I didn’t have the self-confidence that I have now. I think we had to build up a little bit.”

On Monday it was Massabesic building the early lead, with sophomore Kaylee St. Laurent knocking in a rebound. Only 71 seconds later, Redmond banged home a cross from Rutledge following an initial shot by Logan Champlin to make it 2-0.

That had been the final score in last week’s loss to Marshwood, the first of the season for Cheverus, which had opened last year with five straight victories before going winless until the playoffs.

“When we were getting dominated, I was wondering if we were going to be the same team as last year,” Ashley said of Monday’s early going. “We challenged them to see which team would come back, the team of last year or a different team.”

Cheverus managed to get one back 10 minutes before the half when Becca Archer finished off an attack from the left side, with Colleen Slattery assisting. After being outshot 13-4 in the first half, Cheverus came out stronger after intermission, forcing five penalty corners to only one for Massabesic.

The third of those corners proved successful. With Archer inserting, Abby Ford sent the ball into a crowd and sophomore Hannah Abbott reached back and swept it past Wescott to tie the score at 2 with just under 13 minutes left in regulation.

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Kane (18 saves) and Wescott were tested down the stretch and both stood tall, or sprawled when necessary, as was the case for Wescott early in the first eight-minute overtime, with each team reduced to seven players.

A yellow card for repeated high sticking by Cheverus’ Emily Michaud with 2:50 left in the first overtime gave Massabesic a seven-on-six advantage for 10 minutes, and the Mustangs needed nine of them before Rutledge finally ended it.

“For us to play that long against a great team,” Ashley said, “we take a lot out of (Monday). We just know we need to start a little stronger out of the gates next time.”

 


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