YARMOUTH – The one thing you need to understand about Skowhegan High’s field hockey dynasty is that winning state championships never gets old for the Indians.
“Honestly, every year it’s a new team; every year we have to work on different things,” said sophomore forward Allison Lancaster. “And we come out here to show our game.”
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And Skowhegan’s game is very good indeed.
The Indians won their second consecutive Class A state championship and 10th in 11 years Saturday night, beating Marshwood 5-0 at Yarmouth High. Lancaster and Makaela Michonski each scored two goals, and Jessica Skillings had two assists.
The game was played in a snowstorm that started about 10 minutes before it began and coated the artificial turf by the time it ended.
“We have 24 girls who never stop playing and they are just fantastic,” said Skillings, who is heading to UMaine with a teammate, Nicole Sevey. “It feels the best so far this year. We’ve really worked hard and we’ve come a long way since the beginning of the year.”
In winning its 36th consecutive game, Skowhegan (18-0) held Marshwood, which was making its first appearance in a state championship game, without a shot or penalty corner.
“I felt we did play a little bit intimidated at some points, especially defensively, wanting to release it, not able to clear it,” said Lisa Truesdale, coach of the Hawks (14-4). “They controlled the passing, the flow of the game. They’re a fantastic team.”
Still, the Hawks kept it close until Skowhegan took control midway through the first half. The Indians scored two goals within 2:32 off penalty corners, both set up by Skillings, to open it up.
The first was by Sarah Finnemore, a hard drive from the top of the circle that broke through goalie Jacque Tworkowski’s pads with 14:26 left in the first half. Then Lancaster got her first goal, taking a pass from Finnemore to the right of the goal and putting it inside the right post.
“It’s always hard when you’re playing someone you don’t know anything about,” said Paula Doughty, coach of the Indians. “You tell kids, ‘Don’t feel them out. Don’t feel them out.’ But they felt them out for a few minutes. Once they got their rhythm my kids, once they get their rhythm they’re really into it but it was hard to get your rhythm with (the snow) going on.”
But the players didn’t seem to mind the snow. In fact, said Lancaster, “It added a really pretty effect to the game. But we were really pumped, so we weren’t going to let any snow bother us.”
Michonski scored her first goal with 8:34 left in the half to make it 3-0. Lancaster scored just 3:33 into the second half to make it 4-0. Michonski redirected a shot in at the left post to make it 5-0 with 5:10 left.
And it could have been worse, but Tworkowski made some magnificent saves down low to deny the Indians.
“I’m just thrilled with how the team kept persevering, fighting for the ball,” said Truesdale. “They didn’t give up.”
Staff Writer Mike Lowe can be contacted at 791-6422 or at:
mlowe@pressherald.com
Twitter: MikeLowePPH
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