TOPSHAM — The Lawrence field hockey team did not lack scoring chances in the Class B North title game Wednesday night against Old Town.
What it did lack, however, was execution.
Senior Logan Gardner scored in the first half and the defense held firm from there, lifting Old Town to a 1-0 victory over the top-seeded Bulldogs at Mt. Ararat High School.
No. 2 Old Town (14-3-0) will meet Leavitt in the Class B title game Saturday at Cony High School in Augusta. The Hornets beat Cape Elizabeth 2-0 to win the Class B South championship.
“It feels amazing,” said Gardner.
“It’s pretty awesome,” added Old Town head coach Courtney Lanham. “Especially beating the No. 1 team. No one scored on them all season, so it was great to get one past them and come out on top tonight.”
Lawrence finished 13-1-0.
Lawrence goalie Emma Poulin and Bulldog defenders prepare for a penalty corner during the Class B North championship game against Old Town on Wednesday in Topsham. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal
“I’m so proud,” Lawrence head coach Shawna Robinson said. “We had our chances, but we just couldn’t capitalize. But I’m so lucky. I wouldn’t want to be with any other team.”
Lawrence had a 20-6 advantage on Old Town in penalty corners — 15-4 in the second half alone — but strong defensive play by the Coyotes kept the Bulldogs off the scoreboard.
“I’m super proud,” Lanham said. “Chelsey (Cote), my goalie, had numerous saves all season. I’m very confident with her in the cage. I know that my defensive unit coming out, those four girls are strong, sturdy and work together. Maddie (Arsenault) is my flyer, she does a great job getting to the ball and breaking up the play, so there’s none of those hard, strong hits.”
The teams played a back-and-forth game in the first half. Though Old Town had a 5-0 lead in shots, both teams were tied 5-5 in penalty corners and tied 0-0 as the clock hit zero in the second quarter.
But Old Town was awarded a penalty corner to finish the half, and seconds later Gardner snuck a shot into the cage to give the Coyotes a 1-0 lead entering halftime. Madelyn Arsenault was credited with an assist.
“There was a lot going on,” Gardner said. “Maddie Arsenault hit it to the goal, I got the rebound, and I just hit it into the corner.”
Lawrence’s Hope Bouchard tries to move past Old Town defender Madelyn Aresenault during the Class B North field hockey title game Wednesday in Topsham. Andy Molloy/Kennebec Journal
Lawrence had a 10-0 advantage on corners over Old Town in the third quarter, but was only able to get three shots on goal, all stopped by Old Town goalie Cote. The Bulldogs again had the corner advantage, 5-1, in the fourth quarter, but managed two shots on goal.
“We (work on corners) so much,” Robinson said. “(Old Town) are a tremendous defensive team, and we knew that going in.”
Cote finished with five saves.
Lawrence loses six seniors from this year’s team, but return much of its roster next season.
“Our seniors are leaving us, and that’s going to be a huge hit,” Robinson said. “But we’ve got 14 juniors. Hopefully (this game) lights a fire. That group of seniors, they’ve wanted this since they were little kids, and they got just about as close as they could.”
Dave Dyer – 621-5640
ddyer@centralmaine.com
Twittter: @Dave_Dyer
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