YORK — Everyone knows there are a lot of fouls called in field hockey.

The trick is to learn how to draw the whistle in your favor. Good players know how to drag, push and maneuver the ball in such a way to keep the ball moving forward.

York High freshman Lily Posternak is a good player. While she didn’t officially figure in any of the Wildcats’ goals, she was pivotal in the middle of the field during York’s 4-0 victory Monday against Fryeburg Academy.

“It gives your teammates a chance to get up and out and create some space and find some depth,” York Coach Barb Marois said. “We got some nice man-over situations created because of Lily either drawing a free hit or getting a nice hit off.”

York’s final goal was just that type of play.

Posternak drew a call at midfield with her defensive effort. She quickly spotted senior Taylor Simpson ahead and drove a ball that Simpson gathered with speed.

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In the flow, Simpson advanced the ball further to wing forward Alexandra Jones, who then pulled a crisp pass back across the defense to left wing Sarah Panteleos. Panteleos ran onto the ball and neatly deposited it past Fryeburg goalie Jasmine Ramsey (five saves).

“It is a skill that needs to be developed and (York) is very good at that,” Fryeburg Coach Dede Frost said. “There’s no question that this year is rebuilding for us and York is very skilled, especially a couple individuals.”

The Raiders (4-3) held up under consistent pressure for the first 20-plus minutes, thwarting numerous penalty corners with poised, strong play in the circle from the likes of Mary Shea and Makayla Frost.

York (7-0) finally broke on top when Panteleos got the ball deep to Simpson, who worked it across the end line and into the circle.

A top scorer herself, Simpson wove through a of couple defenders and drew some more attention before dishing to a wide-open Devon Datsis, who went low and swept the ball into an open cage with 8:16 left in the first half.

“For 22 minutes in the first half it was 0-0. I was really happy with that because we’re trying out goalies and she had made a few saves,” Frost said of Ramsey.

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On York’s 12th penalty corner of the half, Simpson was credited with a goal when her drive skipped off multiple Fryeburg sticks like a stone across water.

Jones made it 3-0 when she banged in a rebound 3:26 into the second half.

Simpson finished with a goal and two assists. York goalie Olivia Golini made five saves for her sixth shutout of the season. Jones, a sophomore, had a goal and assist and helped set the tempo early with strong rushes up the right side.

“Get it and go,” Marois said of Jones. “She’s got some good speed, no question about it. Now for her it’s just getting some stick skills added to that so she can use the speed and create situations for herself with both the speed and the skill.”

 

Steve Craig can be reached at 791-6413 or at scraig@mainetoday.com

Twitter: SteveCCraig

 


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