WINDHAM – Junior midfielder Abby Allen misfired on her first chance to win the game in overtime for Biddeford High. 

She wasn’t going to squander her next opportunity.

With 5:20 left in overtime, Allen fired a shot past Windham goalkeeper Molly McAllister inside the circle as the Tigers rallied from a two-goal deficit to beat the Eagles 4-3 in a Class A South field hockey matchup in Windham.

“It was a little frustrating (not getting that first shot in),” Allen said. “But that just gives me motivation to get right back and do it again and just keep going.”

The win extended Biddeford’s (6-0) unbeaten streak to 24.

Allen had the chance to win the game less than a minute into the extra period after slipping past the Eagles’ defense and getting a breakaway opportunity, but her shot was deflected by McAllister, who finished with a game-high 16 saves.

Allen had a hand in forcing overtime in regulation for the Tigers. Windham (5-2) took a 3-2 lead when Mya Bolk scored her second goal of the game with 9:37 remaining. But, less than 20 seconds later, Allen weaved through multiple Eagles defenders on her way inside the circle. There, she found Carly Lovejoy near the left side of the goal. Lovejoy slipped the shot past McAllister for her second goal.

Windham took a 2-0 lead 9:05 into the first half on goals from Mya Bolk and Lauren Monson, but the Tigers didn’t get down on themselves after the early deficit. Biddeford, which put six shots on goal in the first half, finally broke through the Eagles’ defense when Jayme Walton scored with 5:53 left in the half. The Tigers tied the game before halftime when Allen found Lovejoy for a goal with 2:39 remaining.

“We never gave up the whole game,” Allen said. “I went in and I said, ‘Heads up, brush it off and let’s go.’ We were down two goals, and we fought and won. Just being able to finish for (my teammates), for how hard they work, is awesome.”

Biddeford head coach Caitlin Tremberth said the Tigers’ ability to fight back from an early deficit is a byproduct of the squad being a “second-half team.”

“It’s how they adapt to the level of play,” Tremberth said. “Sometimes it takes that seven-minute halftime to talk and analyze the holes on the field, what’s working and what’s not working, and any shifts we should do.”

Tuesday’s win marked the fourth game the Tigers have won by a single goal, and the second they’ve had to rally to keep their unbeaten streak alive. Tremberth pointed to the competitiveness of the Class A South region for Biddeford’s close calls so far. 

The games, she believes, will help the Tigers come playoff time and being able to pull out wins says a lot about the character of her team.

“One thing about this team is they don’t give up if they’re losing,” Tremberth said. “It actually fuels them to try harder. I think that’s something you can’t really teach. It’s mental toughness, and these kids definitely have it.”

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