Field Hockey
Field hockey wins Class B Western Maine Championship
By Colleen Buckless
ON TOP. The York Wildcats 2006 field hockey team, pictured here, is the Western Maine Class B champion. The team heads to Portland on Saturday to face Belfast in the state championship game.
Photo by Karen Cribby
ON THE MOVE. York junior Emily Morin flies upfield in last Wednesday's Western Maine Championship win over Leavitt. The Wildcats won at home 3-1 to advance to the state finals this Saturday against Belfast.
Photo by Kate Rasche
Field hockey played the Western Maine Championship game at home last Wednesday, Oct. 25, against Leavitt. Leavitt came yelling and screaming to York, but York just had their minds on the game ahead.
It was cold and windy during the game, which made it difficult for the players on both teams. Leavitt came with a rowdy group of supporters, but York had their own crowd that was larger and louder than Leavitt.
Lauren Coupal started York off with a goal off a rebound with less than two minutes in the game. After Coupal's goal, the ball traveled back and forth between the two teams. They were evenly matched.
Coupal scored four minutes later during a corner, assisted by Kortnee Cribby. Leavitt made it difficult for York to score again in the half, holding York to two goals in the first half.
York came out strong again with a goal by Captain Michaela Franey 34 seconds into the second half. That was the last goal scored by a York player in the game.
The game was very intense during the second half. The ball was mostly in the midfield, and York was losing the ball more during the second half.
Leavitt scored the final goal of the game with a little more than 1 minute and 30 seconds left in the game.
When the game ended, York was exhilarated and Leavitt was disappointed.
After all the medals were handed out to both teams, York Captains Franey and Katherine Lindbom received the Western Maine Class B plaque for York. The York players celebrated with spraying sparkling cider, and took photos so they could never forget that moment.
York Coach Barb Marois said after York's victory, "I am happy for the girls, not only for the Western Maine finals, but also for the opportunity to go to the championship game."
York did not play last Saturday, Oct. 28, against the Eastern Maine Class B champions, Belfast, because of the windy and rainy weather conditions. The game has been rescheduled for this Saturday, Nov. 4 at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland at noon.
Local fans are urged to come and support York field hockey. This game is predicted to be very exciting and a great match-up for both teams.
York and Belfast have played in the state championship game the past two years, and Belfast has won both games. Let's hope that does not happen again so the Widlcats' 15 seniors can end their field hockey career at York High School with a state championship.
