LISBON MIDFIELDER Molly Nicholson (7) chases the ball along with Telstar’s Natasha Hart (2) during an MVC high school field hockey game at Lisbon Falls on Monday. Nicholson assisted on Arianna Kahler’s second-half goal as the Greyhounds downed the Rebels, 1-0, to improve to 5-1 on the season.
Lisbon High School field hockey coach Julie Petrie was frustrated. Her team, as the coach barked out to her bench, was flat, not moving offensively, and the results showed as the Greyhounds, despite owning the territorial advantage, were in a scoreless battle with Mountain Valley Conference foe Telstar on Monday.
LISBON FORWARD Arianna Kahler, left, chips the ball past Telstar’s Hayley Peterson.
“We’re doing what it takes to win, but we’re very young up front and we’re still learning positions,” said Petrie. “We have girls playing several different positions, and sometimes they are not selfish enough in the circle. We have to get into the mindset of shooting when we have the chance.”
“We’re having the same amount of shots or even more than our opponents, and I feel like we are getting better,” said Kahler, who was a catalyst throughout the game for the Greyhounds, along with Molly Nicholson, Mia Durgin, Chase Collier and Michaela Bedell. “It’s been hard to do anything, having played three games in a row. During warm-ups we are trying to get it through to the younger girls to get a touch, get the ball through. We need to be hungry.”
Lisbon control
The first half was all Lisbon, as the Greyhounds pinned Telstar (3-2) in its defensive zone throughout a majority of the opening 30 minutes. Lisbon held a 12-0 edge in shots, along with a 7-0 advantage in penalty corners.
But, the Rebels, behind the powerful kick saves of goaltender Meg Glover (18 saves), kept the game scoreless.
“We are passing well, but we are not finishing,” said Petrie, who gave a stern talk to her players at the intermission. “We are getting good quality shots, but it is either we are taking too long in the circle or just not getting the ball to the spot.”
Telstar began the second half as the aggressor, with Olivia York launching a shot on goal. Lisbon goaltender Stevie Charest made her only save on the play, with the Rebels working hard to get three quick penalty corners.
But, Lisbon defenders Morgan Fenderson, Kate Philbrick, Durgin, Emily Brewer and Ali Bubar stood in the way and blocked the Telstar passing lanes, allowing the Greyhounds to reassume control.
Lisbon countered, with Bubar moving up to midfield. The move paid off as her long reach kept the Rebels bottled up.
A long shot by Bedell led to the Lisbon goal. She sent the ball from 30 yards out toward the Telstar goal, with Glover kicking the shot out. But, Kahler grabbed the rebound, with her first chance stopped, along with a scoring opportunity by Nicholson. But, Kahler gained control and had nothing but net to shoot at, giving the Greyhounds the only goal they needed.
“Arianna is our veteran up front, and she knows that she has to take charge up front, whether it is distributing the ball or scoring, and we love to have her score,” said Petrie. “She is my ‘old lady,’, and she is teaching those younger players.”
Glover kept her team in it with three more second-half saves, but Telstar never had a look at the tying goal as Lisbon escaped with the 1-0 win.
The Greyhounds finished with a 19-1 edge in shots on goal and a 13-3 advantage in penalty corners. Now comes three days of practice, with a majority of the time likely to be spent on finishing scoring chances.
“We will keep working on things,” added Petrie.
Lisbon 1, Telstar 0
At Lisbon Falls
Telstar — 0 0 — 0
Lisbon — 0 1 — 1
Goal — (L) Arianna Kahler.
Assist — (L) Molly Nicholson.
Shots — Lisbon 19, Telstar 1.
Saves — (T) Meg Glover 18; (L) Stevie Charest 1.
Penalty corners — Lisbon 13, Telstar
3.
Records — Lisbon 5-1, Telstar 3-2.
Up next for the Greyhounds — Friday at home against Hall-Dale, 4 p.m.
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