FREEPORT

Freeport High School field hockey coach Marcia Wood could see that her team was tiring. With the heat and humidity on a hot Friday afternoon, the Falcons were wilting.

As its Western Maine Conference home opener against Kennebunk slipped into overtime, Freeport, behind Wood’s instruction, went for the kill early, putting pressure on the Rams’ net and forcing goaltender Liv Kudas to make one of her five saves on a hard shot by Freeport’s Abby Smith.

But, the Rams, coming off an overtime loss to Poland on Wednesday, counter- attacked, with Tiffany Weeks finding teammate Brittany Gregoire open for the gamewinning goal and a Kennebunk (1-1) 2-1 victory.

Freeport slipped to 0- 2 and visits Gray- New Gloucester on Thursday (4 p.m.).

Wood didn’t want to blame the heat, but with few substitutes, it became apparent that the humid conditions hurt the Falcons against the deeper Rams.

“You don’t want to blame the heat, but it was a long week, we were sluggish, and the girls said they felt like they were moving in slow motion,” said Wood. “We are a young team with few subs, and on a hot day like this it is a lot harder to keep up that intensity.”

Strong first half

Neither team generated much throughout a defensive first half. Freeport defenders Bailey Karnes, Chloe Whittaker, Smith, Lexi Peacock and Kendra Harrison kept the Rams from setting up shop inside the 25. Falcons goaltender Morgan Karnes was forced to make two saves as Freeport held a 4-2 edge in shots through 30 minutes.

And, the Falcons claimed a 1- 0 lead with 11: 42 left in the opening frame. After a timeout, Freeport earned its first of six penalty corners ( 6- 4 Falcons edge). Dani Foster fired a shot that deflected off of a Rams defender and past a surprised Kudas.

“ There were times we were hitting the ball to no one,” said Wood. “ They played great after the timeout, and they have a great goalie that kept us from scoring more in the first half.”

Kennebunk controlled the second half. Behind the play of Tiffany Weeks, Kylie Defeo and Jackie Murphy, the Rams outshot the Falcons 5-1.

The tying goal came off the stick of Murphy, with an assist going to Allie Gregoire 7:43 into the second half.

Morgan Karnes made several solid saves down the stretch, finishing with six stops to force the game into a 7-on-7 overtime period.

From the first overtime whistle, Freeport was the aggressor. Foster had a bid go wide, and winger Hannah Williams’ shot was tipped out of play by Kennebunk defender Allie King.

After Kudas stopped Smith on a 2-on-1 Freeport break, Kennebunk countered with its own 2-on-1 rush. Weeks fed Brittany Gregoire to the left of the Freeport goal, with her shot slipping just inside the right post for the gamewinning goal with 2: 32 remaining in the first overtime.

“ To be honest, we haven’t practiced overtime situations, and the fact that they understood when to go up and when to come back was impressive,” said Wood of her team. “It came down to it being an eightminute sprint. We tried to get a goal in the first 30 seconds.

“We talked about playing up to our strengths, being very quick. We were making sure to help each other out. Defensively today, with Bailey Karnes and Kendra Harrison, brand new players to the sport, the girls stepped up and made some big clears.”

Kennebunk finished with an 8-6 edge in shots.

Kennebunk 2,
Freeport 1 (OT)

At Freeport
Friday
Kennebunk—011—2
Freeport— 100—1
Goals — (K) Jackie Murphy, Brittany
Gregoire; (F) Dani Foster.
Assists — (K) Allie Gregoire, Tiffany
Weeks.
Shots on goal — Kennebunk 8,
Freeport 6.
Saves — (K) Liv Kudas 5; (F) Morgan Karnes 6.
Penalty corners — Freeport 6, Kennebunk 4.
Records — Kennebunk 1-1, Freeport
0-2.
Up next for the Falcons — Thursday
at Gray-New Gloucester, 4 p.m.