PORTLAND—For Cheverus’ field hockey team, Wednesday afternoon was a pleasant case of deja vu.

A case of deja vu which leaves the Biddeford Tigers hoping that the third time will be the charm.

In a much-anticipated second showdown this fall, the reigning Class A champion Stags welcomed the team best equipped to knock them off their perch and as they did in the season opener some four weeks ago, Cheverus started fast, held off Biddeford’s charge, then put it away with a late goal.

As she did in the rivals’ first encounter, Stags’ senior standout Lucy Johnson put her team in front to stay in the first quarter, as she finished another spectacular individual effort by finding the cage with 3:12 on the clock.

The Tigers had three penalty corners in the first half, but couldn’t convert, and they weren’t able to generate any offense in the third period either, as Cheverus’ unheralded defense and underappreciated, superb junior midfielder Joey Pompeo held them at bay.

Then, with 11:29 remaining, senior captain Zoey Radford provided some breathing room with a goal and Biddeford wasn’t able to respond as the Stags went on to a 2-0 victory.

Advertisement

Cheverus improved to 8-0 on the season, won its 26th straight game overall and its mindboggling 54th in a row in the regular season while dropping the talented Tigers to 6-2 in the process.

“We didn’t really change our game plan from the last time,” said Andrea Musante, the Stags’ first-year coach. “In the field hockey world, a month is like a year, so we knew they’d come in stronger and faster, but we’ve also grown. We knew it would be a similar game and it was.”

Game of the year…so far

Last November, Cheverus blanked Biddeford, 5-0, in the Class A South Final. The Stags then went on to edge Skowhegan, 2-1, on Johnson’s goal in the final minute, to capture their second state championship in three seasons.

The Tigers, meanwhile, had to wait until the start of the 2024 season to see if they had closed the gap.

They have.

Advertisement

On Sept. 6 in Biddeford, Cheverus prevailed, 2-0, but it was a one-goal game deep into the fourth quarter and the Tigers were, they believed, every bit the Stags’ equal that day.

Since then, both teams have separated themselves from the pack.

Biddeford got back on track with 3-0 wins over Gorham and Falmouth before rolling at Scarborough (7-0) and dominating Noble (11-0), Massabesic (9-2) and Portland/Deering (10-0).

After beating the Tigers in the opener, Cheverus handled visiting Scarborough in a playoff rematch (8-0), beat visiting Gorham (4-1) won at Falmouth, 7-0, survived a scare from visiting Sanford (3-0), then rolled at Marshwood (5-0) and Thornton Academy (8-1).

In the teams’ first showdown, Johnson scored early and sophomore Sydney Brunelle put it away late, but Biddeford had its chances.

Wednesday, on a comfortable early-October afternoon (61 degrees at the start), in front of a large and vocal gathering, the Tigers sought to beat the Stags for the first time since Sept. 10, 2019 (3-2 at home) and hand them their first regular season setback since Oct. 8, 2020 (1-0 in Gorham), but instead, Cheverus made it seven straight in the series.

Advertisement

Biddeford had the majority of possession in the first quarter, but couldn’t strike first.

After the Tigers had a couple of penalty corners turned aside, the Stags went on the attack and with 3:12 to go in the opening stanza, Johnson put her team on top to stay with her 16th goal of the season and the record 134th of her nonpareil career.

Johnson got the ball from sophomore Caroline Rousseau off a free hit, then raced up the left side, where she does her best work. Johnson got enough separation from the defense where she could line up a shot on the forehand side and she got the ball past Biddeford junior goalie Mariah Villandry even though Villandry got a piece of it first.

Cheverus senior Lucy Johnson (7) is congratulated by senior teammate Gabrielle Blais (1) while sophomore Caroline Rousseau (10) jumps for joy following Johnson’s first quarter goal. Shawn Patrick Ouellette / Portland Press Herald

“Caroline had a quick free hit and pushed the ball up and I got free,” Johnson said. “I do like to play on the left. I’m very comfortable on that side. I try to get shots off or feed the ball from there and I was able to turn and shoot. She got a piece of it, but I was trying to aim to the other side and the ball rolled through her legs.”

“That first goal was really big,” Radford said. “Our energy after that was really good.”

“That was great because it always feels good to score first,” Musante added.

Advertisement

The Tigers also started with a bang in the second quarter, earning another corner and this time, it resulted in a shot, from senior Eliza Doyon, but Cheverus junior goalie Ellie Skolnekovich, kicked it aside.

Johnson threatened to double the lead when she raced in at the midway point, but her shot was saved by Villandry.

After Stags’ junior Anna Kennedy-Jensen broke up a rush by Biddeford junior Corinne Ramunno, Cheverus earned a penalty corner as time wound down and by rule, got to play it out after the horn sounded, but the Tigers didn’t allow a shot and the score remained 1-0 at the half, largely due to the Stags’ play on defense.

“Our defense was unbelievable,” said Pompeo. “We stepped to every ball, called the ball, saw open passes. That made a difference.”

“The defense and midfield played great today,” said Johnson. “They stepped to the ball when they had to. No one let the ball come to them. We took our free hits quick which was helpful. It didn’t let them get set up. Obviously, playing on grass gives us an advantage. We’ve played on it all season.”

“Our D and our midfield are great,” said Radford. “Our whole game today was mostly them since we didn’t have it in the offensive end much.”

Advertisement

“Our defense worked with a sense of urgency today, which I really appreciate,” Musante added. “They were working to be first to the ball, clearing it out. I was proud of them playing as clean as they could.”

Biddeford would have a couple looks at the tying goal in the third period, but would remain frustrated.

A little over a minute in, senior Ayla Lagasse fired a shot, but Skolnekovich made the save.

Junior defender Jordan Drouin, who was solid all day, then broke up a rush by Ramunno.

After Villandry robbed Rousseau off a feed from Johnson, talented Tigers freshman Mia Mariello had a great look with 8:28 on the clock, but missed just wide.

After Johnson took a pass from Rousseau and just missed, Biddeford coach Caitlin Tremberth called timeout and it generated a chance with 1:45 to go, a shot from the side from Lagasse, but Skolnekovich saved that one as well.

Advertisement

The score remained 1-0 to start the fourth quarter, but the Stags would add a goal and get a chance to exhale.

After Villandry saved a Johnson shot from the top of the circle, the Tigers tried to counter, but couldn’t get the ball into the circle.

Cheverus then got the ball back and Johnson got things started with a long hit into the offensive zone. Brunelle then got the ball to Radford, who dribbled in and fired a shot. Villandry appeared to have a look at a save, but she couldn’t get a pad on the ball and it rolled in to make it 2-0 with 11:29 to play.

“I knew there was someone behind me, so I was just trying to throw something on net and see what happened,” Radford said. “I was very surprised it went in.”

“I moved back to the second line so we could play a little more defensive and it worked out pretty well,” Johnson said. “I took the quick free hit and Syd and Caroline and Zoey work well together as forwards and Zoey was able to finish.”

“At halftime, we talked that one goal wasn’t enough,” added Musante. “It never felt like a safe game whatsoever. Zoey’s goal was huge. I’m so proud of her for taking the shot. We talk about shots not having to be perfect, but just send them on goal and see what happens.”

Advertisement

Cheverus wasn’t content with a two-goal lead either and twice Rousseau had great looks to break the game open, but Villandry denied her both times.

The Tigers weren’t able to generate another chance from there and the clock ran out on the Stags’ 2-0 triumph.

Cheverus celebrates at the final horn Wednesday. Hoffer photo.

“We just tried to stay positive and humble,” Radford said. “We knew we’d have to play hard. They’re a good team. We just had to keep our composure.”

“Biddeford’s a great team, but we came in and just played our game,” said Pompeo. “We knew they were strong and their passes are great. They held us the first game too.”

“We knew what we were getting into since we played them once,” said Johnson. “We set expectations for ourselves. We executed really well.”

The Stags finished with a 7-3 edge in shots and got three saves from Skolnekovich.

Advertisement

Throughout the game, Pompeo controlled play in the middle of the field.

“Joey has huge contributions,” Musante said. “Sometimes if you don’t have stats, you don’t get the glory, but the way she distributes and contributes on offense and defense is huge. She plays a vital position. I’m really hard on her and she takes it well.”

Biddeford got five saves from Villandry and had a 3-1 advantage in penalty corners, but was again left frustrated.

“It did feel like copy-and-paste from September 6th, but a lot of growth has happened since,” Tremberth said. “We told the girls we could play with them. It would have been nice (to score), but to play our game on grass, with it being our first game on grass, was reassuring.”

Back to business

Each team now looks to finish the regular season on a high note.

Advertisement

Biddeford (second in the Class A South Heal Points standings) is home to face Windham Thursday. Games at Gorham and Marshwood, as well as home tilts versus Falmouth, Sanford and Thornton Academy also loom.

The Tigers are fervently hoping to meet the Stags once more next month for all the marbles.

“We just need to keep grinding,” Tremberth said. “Everything we’re doing is working. We’re working really hard in practice. We have a great group of girls. A great combination of veterans and freshmen. Great defense and offense. (Cheverus is) a very good team and Andrea’s doing a great job, so I’m excited to play against them again.”

Cheverus, which pretty much has the top spot in the region locked up, goes on the road for its next two games: Friday at Gorham and next Tuesday at Scarborough. The Stags then host Noble and Massabesic, travel to Windham, then close at home versus Portland/Deering.

While going undefeated would be nice, Cheverus has far more lofty goals.

“Honestly, we don’t really even talk about (the win streak), Pompeo said. “We just keep our heads down and grind. We just need to keep grinding. We don’t look past any opponent. I know a lot of people think we’re supposed to win every game, but we take it game-by-game and we don’t look past anyone. We want to get the seniors (one more championship). That’s our goal for sure.”

“We try not to think about not losing a game and we try to be humble about it,” said Radford. “We just keep working really hard and keep up our positive energy.”

“It’s hard knowing that we have a lot of pressure on us, but it doesn’t stop us from focusing on one game at a time,” Johnson said. “We’re getting amped up. We just need to keep doing what we’re doing. We’ve bonded as a team super-well this year. Having these games is nice to keep us prepared. We just have to finish strong.”

“We don’t really about think about our winning streak,” added Musante. “I think it’s an interesting fact about us, but we just try to come in and enjoy each other and stay happy and healthy. We need to stay well-conditioned and not let outside pressures get to us.”

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net

Comments are not available on this story.