TOPSHAM

First-year Mt. Ararat High School field hockey coach Krista Chase knew she was going to be nervous in her team’s Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference opener on Wednesday.

Sure, she has a young Eagles team with little varsity experience. But, it was the opponent, the Cony Rams, that made her the most nervous, especially since Chase had coached many of this year’s Rams. In fact, in the pre-game introductions, many of the Cony players hugged their former leader.

Cony (1-0) used its senior experience, rolling to a 9-0 win behind three goals each from Cari Hopkins and Lindsay Watts, along with a five-point game from Arika Brochu (one goal, four assists).

“It was more emotional than I thought, especially during the National Anthem, but I am a Cony girl, graduated there, my mom was a field hockey coach there, I coached there for 12 years, and I love them all,” said Chase, whose Eagles face a tough task on Friday at talented Messalonskee. “I will cheer for Cony, as long as they are not playing Mt. Ararat (0-1).”

One standout for Mt. Ararat was goaltender Hayley Frizzle, who turned aside 35 shots as her team was outshot 46-1.

“Hayley excites me,” said Chase. “She got pummeled today, and she is playing like a senior, not like a sophomore. It is exciting that I get to work with her for three years. Hayley and Maddy Alexander have stepped up as my leaders on this field.”

Despite the constant pressure, Frizzle feels her team is starting to come together.

“I think we were doing well, but after a couple goals we got a little bit down,” said Frizzle. “We just need to mark up a little bit better and start getting the ball to the other cage. I think we’re doing wonderful with our teamwork. We are new together, but we are working hard.”

Cony lead

The Rams came out quickly, with Frizzle stopping Brochu twice, along with big saves on Hopkins and Delaney Keithley.

Cony found the back of the net 3:50 in as Molly Silsby put home the third rebound from in front of Frizzle for a 1-0 Rams lead.

Despite being outshot 11-0 through the halfway point of the first half, the Eagles still trailed by just one goal. But, Cony found its rhythm, tallying three more goals over an eight-minute stretch. Hopkins and Watts (assisted by Brochu) scored to make for a 3-0 game, and Silsby’s second with 3:38 left in the opening frame gave the visitors a 4-0 cushion.

Chase rallied her team around her at the break, talking fundamentals.

“We have to stay positive, show up every day and work hard,” said Chase. “We are teaching the fundamentals and game strategy. My group just needs time to work on things. They are so young and this is so new, but they are hard workers. This is a season of growth, and we have goals.”

Cony put the game away early in the second half, getting a pair of goals from Hopkins less than five minutes in for a 6-0 lead.

After Chase called a timeout, Mt. Ararat put pressure on the Cony goal, manned by keeper Madeline Lewis. Eva Jerome found some room off a nice setup from Alexander, with Lewis making her only save.

Watts tallied two more goals down the stretch to complete her hat trick, with Brochu finishing off the scoring with 1:02 remaining.

“It’s exciting to see Cony so strong, and it is what I want to do with this Mt. Ararat program, but success takes time,” said Chase.

Defensively, Eagles Nicole Labbay, Savannah Parry, Laura Secone (two defensive saves) and Alexander faced a ton of pressure throughout, while midfielders Alana Weaver and Jessy Doyle forced the ball upfield.

Cony 9,
Mt. Ararat 0

At	Topsham
Cony —		4	5	—	9
Mt. Ararat		— 0	0	—	0

Goals — (C) Molly Silsby 2, Cari
Hopkins 3, Lindsay Watts 3, Arika
Brochu.
Assists — (C) Arika Brochu 4.
Shots on goal — Cony 46, Mt. Ararat
1.
Saves — (C) Madeline Lewis 1; (MA)
Hayley Frizzle 35.
Penalty corners — Cony 9, Mt.
Ararat 1.
Records — Cony 1-0, Mt. Ararat 0-1.
Up next for the Eagles — Friday at
Messalonskee, 4 p.m.