SCARBOROUGH — No opponent has scored more than one goal in a game against the York High field hockey team this season.
So when the Wildcats took a quick 2-0 lead Tuesday against Greely, the Rangers were in trouble.
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Top-seeded York went on to a 3-1 win over the third-ranked Rangers in the Western Class B final at Scarborough High.
Chelsea Morley, Shelby Spencer and Becka Sarson scored for York (16-1),which will play Nokomis of Newport in the state final Saturday at the University of Maine.
York will be in the final for the sixth time in the last seven years and third straight season. The Wildcats last won the title in 2008, when midfielder Hannah Keating was a sophomore.
She thinks this team has the intangibles for success.
“Whenever we step on the field, I can honestly feel the passion on our team,” Keating said. “You just know we’re going all out every game.”
York was poised to go all out from the start, and lined up for its third penalty corner just four minutes into the game.
Morley passed to Keating, who crossed to Cari Posternak. She quickly sent the ball in, where Morley buried it from the left post at 4:06.
“I just sent it to the post because I knew Chelsea would be there,” Posternak said.
York, which held possession most of the game, quickly got the ball back and rushed toward the Rangers’ goal. Spencer, on a feed from Catherine Keenan, scored at 4:55 for a 2-0 lead.
“In true Greely field hockey fashion, we tend to come out a little weary,” Rangers Coach Kristina Prescott said. “It takes us a good 10 minutes to realize we’ve got to step it up. Unfortunately against a team this strong, they’ll capitalize on it.”
Greely (12-5) responded and led by Chelsey Andrews, began creating chances.
The Wildcats’ defense, led by Michelle Potter, Emily Garry and Morley, held on.
But at 21:07, Jackie Andrews of Greely sent the ball into a crowd in front. Eliza Porter took control of a rebound and scored, closing to 2-1.
Keating feared the momentum might be reversing.
“Once they got that goal, we had to come back quick,” Keating said.
York earned its fifth penalty corner in the closing minutes of the half. The Wildcats kept control. Posternak crossed to the middle. Sarson scored from Spencer with 32 seconds left in the half.
Midfielders Keating, Liz Fiorentino and Meghan Boria-Meyer, kept York in control most of the game.
“We did a good job of maintaining possession,” York Coach Barb Marois said, “and working hard to get it back when we didn’t have it.”
Both defenses, led by goalies Amanda Kasbohm (York) and Margaret Bower (Greely) dominated the second half.
“We had opportunities,” Prescott said. “A lot of it came down to experience. They’ve been here many times before. My girls worked hard to get here and they played very well.”
Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at: kthomas@pressherald.com
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