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Thank you.

- We welcome you to Edward Little High School as Maine Public Sports brings you the MPA State Championship Field Hockey Weekend.

Hello, everybody.

I'm Rob Munzing, joined here by the coach, Coach Mo McNally.

And Quinn Bird will be down on the field for us with some pregame interviews.

Well, - We've - Got one in the book, Class B coming up here.

We had a great first game, two to one, one for the Stags.

What are you looking for here in this one, Coach?

- Again, I think it's going to be another close game.

Nikomis comes in after beating Leavitt four to two in the north regionals.

They, two of them scored on penalty corners, so Nicom... Nikomis is, Nkomis is one of those teams that has scored in bundles.

They've got, I think, over 90 goals this year, Rob.

And then Freeport comes in at 14 and three.

Their third time in a state championship game with a coach that's coached for 14 years.

I think Marsha's been at the helm for 14 years.

So I think we'll see another real good game, highly skilled teams.

- And let's go down now to our person on the field, Quinn Bird Quinn.

- Thank you, Rob and Mo.

Coach, your team has a very strong group of upperclassmen.

How are you going to use that to your advantage?

- You know, I think using some of their experience from last year, the few of them that were playing in that state game is going to go pretty far today.

But really we're just kind of happy to be here, so anything that happens, we just hope that we put on a good show for the fans.

- What did you do in preparation for today?

- Honestly, we just played our normal game, played our normal practice.

We didn't change anything.

We had, we had some fun.

- Thanks, coach.

Thank you.

Back to you guys.

- If we take a look again, we're taking a look at the Freeport coming in again at 14 and three.

They beat Grey New Gloucester one to nothing in their quarterfinal, Greeley three to two in the semifinal, and then Yamath two to one, which was a little bit of an upset from what I understand.

Yamath had been towards the top of the the leaderboard most of the season, but Freeport comes in scoring 68 goals, 24 goals allowed.

They've got five shutouts.

Coach says that they've got no regrets and there's a big belief in this particular team.

So Freeport comes in, it's going to play tough against Nikomis.

Nkomis, as we said comes in and they are 16-1, they scored 91 goals, one of the top teams in terms of goal scores for the season.

They've only allowed 10.

They've got nine shoutouts and they, as we said, they beat Levitt four to two coming into this particular game.

And Coach Lauren Neal in her first year says that hard work and effort will always always play out.

And she's heard their team motto is pressure is a privilege.

So I think she's excited to be here as well as her kids.

They're led by Annie Nice, who's got 31 goals on the season and 11 assists.

And Freeport is led by Megan Ritz, who's got 16 goals and five assists.

Take a look at the goalies.

Anna Russell for Nikomis has got 70 saves.

Lydia Costa for Freeport's got 94 saves.

So how Freeport's going to check with the power of Nikomis might be the question, Rob.

- Well, Quenberg got a chance to talk to young coach Laura Neal.

Let's go down and hear from her.

- Thanks guys.

Coach, this has been your first appearance in the state championship since 2013.

What does it mean to bring this program back to the stage?

- It means everything.

Oh my God.

Like I, I played at Nikomas and, you know, I remember going as a kid to the 2013 States and just being like in awe of the environment.

So although I never got to experience it, I'm so happy that I've been able to bring the girls here and I'm excited to see how they put, put, leave it all out on the field today.

- And what would you say this team's biggest strength is heading into this matchup?

- Passing.

100%.

When our passing's on, I feel like we're truly unstoppable.

And I feel like it also just brings them more, more momentum and confidence along the way.

So I'm really hoping that we have our passing game on today.

- Thank you.

Back to you guys.

- Well, let's take a look at Nokomis, some of the players to watch in this one.

You mentioned Andy Nice, a critical veteran anchor back there.

Commands a field, well, has great vision.

The kids really look to her.

Maeve Rush, another forward and she'll live up to her name won't she coach?

She'll be rushing.

She'll be, she'll be offensive.

She'll be a great threat for them as well, Ava Roundry.

She's a clutch scorer and she broke that one-one tie to secure the momentum in that 4-2 regional championship victory over Levitt.

So those are some of the key players there and I got to kick out a coach saying, "Hey, we're just having fun."

Well, I'd have fun too if I'd been in the state championship game four out of five years.

I mean, that's a lot of fun.

So the Falcons have been high flying here.

Anna Machino is one of their dangerous threats particularly on the set pieces, the corners.

She'll be somebody to look for.

Lisa Flower, another premier weapon for them.

Reid Proska is a she's an elite veteran player.

These kids have been here.

They've been in this game four to five years, so they know how to get it done and, you know, there's going to be no panic in them because they've been on this stage.

Nakoma's coming back in after a few years.

They've built this program up nicely.

They've always been a contender.

And it's nice when a player that played for them can reference back to a while back and say, "Hey, I remember being there in," I think it was 2014 that she mentioned.

And she said, "You know, I know that feeling.

We want to bring that feeling back to our community here."

And both schools, I was downstairs between games and you know, a lot of folks coming in to see this one and they're going to be in for a good show here today.

The rain has held off really pretty well today.

It has not really been a factor.

Certainly not in game one.

The, the field condition, what a beautiful complex they have built here at Edward Little High School.

So we're going to go to pre-game announcements.

Let's turn over to the PA announcer upstairs.

- Championship.

Hammond Lumber Company supports high school sports and Maine's championship traditions.

Hammond Lumber Company's a fourth generation family business.

They carry a full line of building materials and feature home planning design centers all conveniently located in the communities we love to cheer on.

Learn more at hammondlumber.com.

You can enjoy the tournament's free digital program with rosters, team photos, and tournament history.

It's all easily accessible right from your phone.

Just go to mpa.cc.

If you're hungry or thirsty, we've got you covered.

Concessions are available and proceeds.

Go to the Edward Little Grandstand Club.

So grab what you want and get ready for a great game.

We want to thank our sponsors for supporting student athletes and school communities across Maine.

On behalf of the MPA, big thanks to Hammond Lumber Company, Penn Monto, Maine Savings Federal Credit Union, Gosline Retirement Planning, Convenient MD Max Preps, the US Army, Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, Northwest Designs Inc.

Maine Golf, Maine Air National Guard, Bangor Savings Bank, Maine Problem Gambling, Presentation Systems, Maine Bureau of Highway Safety, Maine Army National Guard, and the Finance Authority of Maine.

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- There are going to be interstitials for any commercial station, anybody wanted to put them on, put them online.

Little snippets in main history.

We recorded them.

It was a good project for the kids.

It was a good project for us.

I don't know how many, how many hits they ever had, but I know they were good.

Yeah.

Do you have enough money to do things?

- Good afternoon and welcome to Edward Little High School for the 2026 MPA Class B state championship game presented by Hammond Lumber Company.

Today's state championship contest features the visiting Falcons of Freeport High School and the home Warriors of Nokomis.

Let's meet the team members first from Freeport.

Junior number two, Briella Boudreaux.

Sophomore number six, May Kaplinger.

Junior, number eight, Zoe Blackmon.

Sophomore number nine, Aubrey Black.

Junior number 11, Whitney Richards.

Sophomore number 12, Allison Black.

Sophomore number 18, Avery Geyer.

And freshman number 99, Alison Kelsch.

And now let's meet the starters from Freeport, a junior number one, Piper, LaRochelle.

A senior number three, Megan Ritz.

A junior number four, Delilah McCarthy.

A junior number five, Peyton Schultz.

A sophomore number seven, Ava Emmons.

A sophomore number 10, Kennedy Daigle.

A senior number 13, Lydia Porter.

A freshman number 14, Charlotte Sikorsky.

A senior number 15, Callie Borgoin.

A senior number 16, Ella Lamont.

And the goalkeepers a junior number 98, Lydia Costa.

Head coaches Marsha Wood, assistant coaches Lisa Daniel and Deidre Boudreaux.

Now let's meet the team members from Nakomas.

A senior number four, Riley Norris.

A freshman number 15, Kendall Olin.

A sophomore number 18, Olivia Belanger.

A freshman number 19, Gretchen Lane.

The managers are freshman, Bree Skinner.

And now let's meet the starters.

A sophomore number one, Maeve Rush.

A junior number two, Ella Tulus.

A junior number three, Reese Molten.

A freshman number five, Cameron Ricker.

A senior number seven, Delaney Randlet.

A senior number eight, Mackenzie Watson.

A senior number nine, Annie Nice.

A freshman number 10, Kaylee Parady.

A sophomore number 14, Ava Burke.

A freshman number 20, Ava Roundy.

And the goalkeepers a senior number 77, Anna Russell.

Head coach of Nokomis Lauren Neal, the assistant coach is Cassie Larley.

The officials for the game, Cindy Place, Crystal St.

Ange and Michelle Dwyer.

On behalf of the MPA and Hammond Lumber Company, we wish both teams good luck.

- No Anthem.

We had the anthem in the first game.

Hey, listen, I'm an old guy.

You know, I did this AI stuff to get the stats and they gave me somewhere else Freeport in America.

So let's revisit the key offensive place here.

Ava, Ava Emmons will be one of them.

Charlotte Zarosky, she's a freshman impactful first year player and Briella Boudreaux also a key facilitator on the attack, defensive leaders.

You saw Lydia Costa, she's going to be the goalkeeper, Kelly Bagoin as well in the midfield and Dalia McCarthy.

Kennedy Daigle will be some of the keys.

We'll take a look for the keys to the game, Mo.

- Yeah, if you take a look for Nokomis, they've got to put pressure on early.

They are very, very excelled in their penalty corners, so if they can create some penalty corners, that's going to be a good opportunity for them and they're very, very quick.

They need to use their free hits, especially in the midfield to get through the offensive end.

For Freeport, you got to slow down Nicomas' transition game.

It's one of the best in the state.

They got to limit the direct shots that Nikomas takes because if they get the first one, they're very often going to take the second.

And then they... Freeport's got to create some offensive opportunities for themselves from the 25 yard end.

So it's going to be a good game and we've got different points of emphasis for both of these teams, but it's going to be a real tight game, I think, Rob.

- Yes, exactly.

And again, I apologize for that.

Well, you know, I, I though it was A1 and I put like A1 sauce on my computer and it came up with this stuff, so what are you going to do?

All you can do is hold it.

- Not a problem.

I don't think the fans are going to mind.

I don't think the kids are going to mind.

- Well, we're going to play on.

- Exactly.

Regardless of the A1 sauce.

- Falcons will be flying in white.

You'll be going left to right.

Marsha Wood there, coach.

Laura Neal from Nicomas, both coaches got butterflies now.

It's out of their hands, in the hands of the kids.

The Falcons will put it in play.

Ritz with it here.

- I enjoyed what Marsha Wood said at the beginning of the game too.

She said this, you know, she's, they've been there.

They've done what they have to do.

They had a little fun this week, loosened it up for the kids, had a good fun practice.

I think that's the right way to approach this game.

- That was Roundy putting it in play and that'll turn over now and Falcons will find the sweet spot right about there and on we'll go.

- Ava Roundy had a great game against Levitt last week.

She was very, very strong.

- Warriors with it here.

Ava Roundy put it in front.

Little feeling out process Mo, always a little aerial attack here and... - Yeah, I think you'll see you'll see that very often.

That aerial is used to clear it out, open up the defense, and kids who have that skill can really open up a game for you.

But I, I think you're right.

In a game like this in the first few minutes, it's going to be calm the nerves.

Let's see if we can put the pressure on when we need to, see what our passing game looks like.

Take, take a good eye on the defense and what you've got to work with.

So I, I think it's just feeling each other out in the first few minutes here.

- Yeah, you saw May Rush.

He'll have a lot of stick time today.

Mo and I actually saw Nicomas play against Gardner on the regular season game that we did.

That was early on in the season.

They were impressive in that game.

- They certainly were.

And against Levitt last week, they take their free hits as quickly as anybody.

And again, they're very, very strong in the deep defense in the back.

They've got strong sticks, long hits very intentional with their passes.

- Ava Roundy.

She'll drill it and jumping out of the way.

Ava Emmons says, "Hey, out of the way of that thing."

Set the offense back on the attack.

Swarovski, as we said, a promising freshman, has had a great first year.

For the Falcons.

Falcons will try to keep it in play.

That was Porter.

She'll leave it off here.

Boudreau threads it through, that's going to go long and far and chase down and put back into play here by the Warriors.

- We've mentioned freshmen both in this game and the first game, Robin.

It's, it's difficult for freshmen to step into programs of this caliber and step in and play a lot, let alone start.

So there's a little bit of pressure on the freshmen to to deliver, but they've had a long season to get ready for this game and most of the time, if you've got freshman playing varsity, they, they can handle the nerves pretty well.

- As we said, the Falcons, minor upset over Yarmouth in their regional final.

And here comes Rush.

Maybe Rush down the far side, controls it well, living up to her name Rush, as that was an end to end rush by Mabrush, just a sophomore.

- And again, we said at the beginning, she's one of their top goal scores.

I think she's got 20 and 17 assists on the season, so look to her to be integral when they inside the... When they're inside the 25.

- McKenzie walks in and into Crossroads in.

- Wow.

- Well, it looked innocent enough, but no shot is a bad shot.

We'll see it on the replay.

- She's coming in on the left side too, which is tough.

- Just kind of flicks it through and it had eyes.

- I don't know if the defense thought that they, the person in front of them was going to grab the ball.

It was a tough a tough one because it had a little bounce to it too.

- I think it went directly in, so... - Right.

- There was no tip or anything.

One nothing Nacomus early.

That was actually the first offensive thrust of the game and they get the goal.

- Right.

First shot, first goal.

So we'll see, this gives them an opportunity to see how Freeport reacts to it.

- Yeah, so it's Mackenzie Watson.

And that was an innocent looking shot, but it just found its way, snaked its way home through traffic.

One nothing warriors early in the first.

This is the class B state championship field hockey game.

They're just joining us here in Maine public sports.

Rob Munsing, Mo McNally, win Bird down on the field for us.

- As we said, Mikomis comes in at 16:01.

Freeport comes in at 14 and three.

Freeport lost to Grey New Gloss to Yamouth and Mount Arap, and Nikomus lost to Lovett in the regular season.

- Yeah, they avenged that loss.

- They did.

- With a big regional final win.

Falcons are looking to see if they can't get some offense going.

That came up and Ritz had a duck out of the way of it.

Ava rounded.

Little defiant flip back there.

Now they've got this fart.

Nakomis looks to switch field over the rounding.

Roundy up the near side.

Couldn't get her through some good defense there by Ritz for the Falcons.

But Watson's got it.

She's got the goal, throws it in reverse.

Didn't snake it through.

She's back on it, on the defense.

And the Falcons will possess.

Down one, nothing.

They've just got to settle the game down here, Mo, and play their game.

- Well, that's exactly right.

You never know how teams are going to react to a state game.

The bus ride here is in itself a treat.

And it's up to coaches to get kids ready when they come on the field and it's... But no matter what you do, there's always kids that are just nervous when they come on and it just takes them a little bit of, of time.

And Freeport's not... Hasn't played Nakoma, so these two are strangers to each other.

They don't really know the other team well.

So you got to find out where the holes are on the field.

We got to spread the field out.

You got to look for your passes, and at the same time, you play your, your game.

Look for your key ingredients in this particular game.

- Yeah, and likely no common opponents as they play completely different regional schedule.

In the same region as down south out of Falcons, of course up north of Nakomas.

If you're not familiar with Maine high school field hockey, you play regionals.

Come out of your regional into a final.

Nice pass for space here.

Warrior's trying to get it through.

That was Cameron Ricker.

Good defense on the part of Ella Lamont.

Lamont back in play for the Falcons, but intercepted.

Nice pass through center.

Randlet.

- But Freeport also, you get, you score, allow the opposing team to score that early.

It's like a slap in the face.

And all of a sudden you're thinking, oh my gosh, Amar, we're down one to nothing.

So you got to regroup a little bit after that goal.

- That's tipped wide.

Freeport really not able to get the attack going yet.

We haven't had no corners in the game up to now.

That one's all the way through, track down.

Ella Talus.

- I think one of the strengths of Newport too, I mean, Nicoma says they've got, they've got good goal scores, but they've also got their deep defense.

Their line of the last three fullbacks or backs, whatever you want to call them, have been strong all season long.

Given up not many goals through, through the season and their goal has not taken a ton of shots.

So it's up to Freeport to get through that deep defense in order to get a couple shots on goal.

- Put back in play here by the Falcons, that one's scarred.

Got to make a number change.

Peyton Schultz is number five for the Falcons.

Okay.

No comments and accepted by the aforementioned Peyton Schultz.

Shults stepped into there by Ava Roundy, but... The Falcons matriculating up the field and accepted Serosky.

Well, the Falcons, so pass doesn't get through, but it'll be Falcon's ball here.

- That was a white route to take for the pass too.

It's, I think it's important for Freeport to get on the right side.

The right side of the field, which is an easier side in order to penetrate the circle at this end.

But again, we're going to look and see who controls the midfield of this game.

And right now it's, it's back and forth.

Because your midfield control your tempo, controls your pass, and it starts your offensive thrust for the most part.

So... - Connects, becomes a threat for Freeport.

And they get it out front, they do.

It's there, fought for, loose, scrum, and that'll be the first corner of the game.

So the Falcons, with that offensive thrust, get their first corner.

- Easier transition coming in from the right side sets that corner up road.

And Nikomis' strength is on this left... Defensive strength is on the left side too, so I think it would improve Freeport to stay on the right as much as they possibly can.

- Peyton Schultz to insert.

Quick whistle.

- Defense jumped.

- Too early on the - - Yes.

- Jump.

We'll reset it.

Shilts in.

Passover.

Ritz.

Those are thug.

Oh, I think I hit the post.

- Wow.

- What an opportunity for the Falcons.

- Wow.

That did, Rob.

It came right off the post.

- Wow, we heard it from our field audio clang.

Watch it here.

- Here it comes.

We're on the right side, comes straight through.

Oh, it went off the defensive stick to the post, right?

- Yeah.

Wow.

Here's the corner thrown in and traffic.

And Nikomis will prevail.

- And because of that defensive jump, Nikomis played with only four defenders down there.

They had one back at the 50.

Both corners had to be played that way.

- Looking for a change of field, a long through ball.

Taken off to the side by Kennedy Daigle.

She does a good job.

Stick work down the near side.

Oh, Falcon's picking up the offense here a little bit.

They're down 1-0.

The early goal for Nicomas was Mackenzie Watson.

- I was just thinking, Rob, as we watched Kennedy come down through there.

A lot of these kids are playing field hockey in the off season.

They're developing their skillset.

Nice save, nice kick.

- That was a nice kick out saved by Anna Russo.

She's a very animated kid and goal.

- And she's high.

She comes out very, very high, higher than most goalies.

- She had a wonderful post-game interview after the big regional win the other day.

- As I was saying with Kennedy Daigle, that these kids are playing a lot of hockey and they're defining their, their stick skills.

And we just saw Kennedy was talking to a mother not too long ago.

And she devotes herself in the off season, although she's quite an athlete.

So she's getting better, individual stick skills, and we see that a lot with these kids.

And there's a lot of opportunities in Maine for them to develop their skills as well.

- No, Maine's a well-respected field hockey community.

Sending kids all over the Northeast and many levels of play.

- Absolutely.

And we would... You just mentioned UMA and our own backyard is starting a field hockey program next year, so that'll be fun to watch.

There's a lot of talent in central Maine, so I'm hoping they'll, they'll be quite successful.

- McCarthy wouldn't get a through, but what's it called?

It's going to go over to Nokomis.

Freeport, Freeport's got to be happy here.

They've changed momentum a little bit.

They've been on the offensive.

They get back on their heels early on in the game and we're about to wind down the first.

But they have been equal here since the early goal by Mackenzie Watson for the Nokomis Warriors.

Down to 15.

And an opportunity here, Clark will probably We wind down, but we will play on through this corner and you're going to hear the horn here disregard it.

- And you'll see Coach brings all our field players up because the time is out when the corner's over anyway.

So all the field players have been elevated to the circle area.

- Comes in.

Thrown in front, deflected in front.

It's loose.

Ball still loose.

Fighting for control and finally - Stroke.

- Penalty stroke call.

- That what you just called.

Oh no, no time's out.

Must have been a foul.

- It must - Have been a foul.

- Yeah, the time is out.

That'll get us through one quarter of play.

See the score of the early goal by Mackenzie Watson makes it one nothing Nacoma's at the end of one.

We're back, you're watching Field Hockey Championship weekend on Maine Public Sports.

- Championship weekend on Maine Public is made possible by... - Hammond Lumber Company, a family owned independent lumber and building material supplier with 34 locations across Maine and New Hampshire.

- And by viewers like you.

Thank you.

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- Well, whether you missed a live action or want to re-watch every championship moment Maine Public Television has your covered catch complete replays of all three state final matches tomorrow beginning at 6:00 AM.

Visit Mainepublic.org for more information.

We'll have the Class A game at six, Class B at eight, and Class C at 10 AM tomorrow.

Thanks to our fine crew, braving the elements today, not bad now.

Really nice conditions out there.

50 degrees or so.

A lot of these kids playing every second of the game.

We saw that in the first game.

Some of the premier players there played every second of the game.

These kids are in fantastic cardio shape.

Taken off by Daigle to the far side and she had a run started but intercepted and dispossessed.

Far side now goes to Piper Laraschell.

Nikomis controls.

Lydia Porter, what a nice play, did a little spinorama move there and got the ball out of danger.

Just underway in the second, this is the second of three games that we'll have here for you today.

We've settled the class A champion.

The Titans won again.

The Stags do what they do, which is win state championship field hockey games.

They are now up to 74 consecutive unbeaten games, 35 in a row unbeaten.

Taken down deep here by Ritz.

She throws it in front.

Falcon's trying to get the equalizer.

They can't do it and dispossessed and now coming out, trying to get to midfield, but nice step in that time in the midfield.

Dahlia McCarthy.

Aid to play.

That's good midfield play right there.

- I think Freeport's found their footing.

After that initial ball and that scare in the beginning Freeport got some shots on goal and has put the pressure on down on this end.

So I think we're more, a more even game after the first two or three minutes after Nakoma scored.

- In the, in the first goal innocuous looking play.

The ball kind of looked like a jalopy going down the road there and just kind of found its way to the back.

- Yeah, it wasn't a shot shot.

It was like a slow motion type of thing.

- Yeah.

- Little bounce to it.

I don't... I think the goalie though that the backs in front of her had it and just kind of bounced it right through heads.

- Yeah, - It's - A little miscommunication I think on the back end.

They've firmed that up since.

Here's a threat for Nakomis.

All cleared but not out.

Stayed in and now it'll come out.

It'll be Nakoma's ball.

Roundy will come up and she'll start quickly.

Looking across.

Can't.

Good defensive posture that time by the Falcons.

Roundy will take it.

Ava wanted to cross.

Defender's in a good spot there and now can they get it to the side?

They do.

They clear it out, do the Falcons.

Change her field nicely done there by Ritz.

It'll come all the way back to the back line of the Nakomis Warriors.

They throw it back up in the offensive zone, Randlet.

They'll put it back in play.

Falcons stem the tide there and they'll wait and see if they can get back on the offense.

Ariel, nicely done.

Controlled on a tough one and then back pass and nicely done by Freeport.

On the far side, both teams fighting for control, but the Warriors won the battle but now dispossessed.

A rush.

Nave spins around, throws it in.

One of the warriors went down, but they'll force a corner.

- It was reset as far as Nicoles and the corners go, they wanted the most efficient on corner plays in the state.

They scored two on penalty score, penalty corners against Levitt in the regional final.

- Getting the view from almost what the goal tender and defenders see.

Comes the insert.

Anna Nice got it in.

Over to Watson, she's got the goal.

She can't get through her defender, but she'll save the possession.

No, it'll go... Yeah, it'd be another corner.

Yeah, another corner.

Annie Nice checks her stick, talks to it and says, "Put it right where I want it."

And she does.

Right onto Watson back to Nice.

Nice wants across.

She turns.

That's a good save there.

That was a kick out save.

Well, it's a goalie sometimes.

You've got to hold that near post.

That well done.

- That's right.

That's right.

The near post is the goalies.

- The near poster.

- Soft post is the back and sometimes that gets misconstrued, but... And again, as you can see in this, in this point of the game that they're outnumbered defensively down there.

So you got to make sure that people go usually from a man to man into a zone coverage in the corners because you're just outnumbered.

- Well, that pass intercepted, crossed right in front.

Opportunity, no, it comes back out.

Boy, that looked like it was going to be a golden opportunity for the Warriors, but the Falcons able to control, but they can't clear.

Rush.

Two defenders.

May Rush, he's in.

The shot, save, Costa, it's loose.

- That's a good example of officiating now.

- Yeah, I was going to ask you about that.

- Absolutely.

The officials nowadays are wanting to make the game faster and cleaner.

So you're going to hear less whistles.

And what they do is they hold the whistle in situations like this, even though they know that there might be a call, but if there's no advantage to anyone, they let the ball play on.

- And you don't want to take the advantage away from the offense.

- Exactly.

- And that's exactly what you saw there and Costa had to come up with a big save and she did.

- And it makes for a cleaner game, a clearer game, and a faster game because it keeps the ball rolling.

- Schultz got it ahead.

Brits was looking to spin and shoot.

Deflected in.

It's in the circle.

They're fighting for it.

Anna Russell was well out of her cage there.

You saw it.

- Yeah, she comes up pretty high, which leaves her vulnerable to the back.

So when she does come up higher, Freeport puts players on either side down low by the post, there's a greater opportunity for a score in those areas because the goalie keeps not going to get back quick enough.

- Peyton Schultz inserts clean.

Oh, got a quick whistle.

Jump the gun again.

Yep.

Russell's got to go off.

She jumped the gun.

- She goes back to the 50s and they play again down - I'm - Not off.

She's got to come out of the zone.

Ritz to insert.

Ross.

Oh, it just bounced over.

Ritz is stick.

She's going to try to show it in front.

And let's see.

Tacomas prevails.

703.

Then a good look at Anna Russell, the junior goalkeeper.

She's been a little busier lately.

Warriors on the fly up the near side.

Shults with some good defense.

She's looking gonna go back.

Tried to pass it up to herself, couldn't get through the defender, beat Nacomus ball.

Cameron Ricker.

She's a freshman midfielder.

Out the back of one of the Falcons.

Peyton Schultz.

She's had a lot of stick time in the first half so far.

Reflect it down.

Will it stay in?

It does.

Nacoma's quick restart.

Threaded up.

Roundy.

Threw it to the middle to space where it's picked up by Yenny nice.

Nice.

Tried to thread it through, couldn't.

Hyperlarishell takes it wide and throws it out.

Get that one off in the coma stick.

It'll be Falcon's ball, five and a half minutes.

The lap time.

Riley Norris in the game.

- Looks like Freeport's trying to release their their forwards on that, that side to pick up the ball on a long ball passed out of the defensive end.

- No potential rush there, broken up Zeloski, but it'll maintain possession for the Falcons.

Shults played it back, threaded through, didn't get through.

Good defense on the back line.

Warriors counter.

Mave Rush, as we said, living up to her name, Fred's beautiful through ball and just not able to get tracked down there.That's - A couple times that they've established that 3V2 coming down through there, which opens up a shooter and, and Mavis had a great pass on both, both rushes.

- Well, you saw the speed of Mave Rush and then the beautiful through pass.

The early goal holding up, Mackenzie Watson.

We'll have the halftime stats.

Karen Galant providing that for us at halftime.

Freeport.

There's a nice rush down by Lydia Porter, senior forward.

- Good opportunity to Freeport to get that ball into the circle, get yourself either a corner or a shot.

Take a little bit of the pressure off, off you offensively.

- La Rochelle.

Not able to get her through.

Freeport maintains possession.

La Rochelle.

Reverse stick kind of got muffled there and Nicomas will withstand that offensive pressure and they will control.

They'll try to aerial out.

They can't, good step up there.

Defensive offense for the Falcons.

They possess.

Schultz dropped it over, threaded through, one timer, but picked up there by Riley Norris.

And now Ella Taluso aerial it out, sends it up the near side on a beautiful aerial and quick whistle there.

- That aerial is a beautiful example of how to get yourself out of the defensive end and in open space.

He's done very well.

Precise on the pass.

Ava Roundy came to pick it up.

Nicely done.

- Ava Emmons breaks through.

Emmons.

Well defended, but good step up on the help by Ritz.

Inside, kick out save.

It's loose.

Kicked again.

Back to back saves.

Anna Russell.

- Good free port pressure in that sequence of of moving the ball down into that end.

So put a little bit of pressure on.

- Kali Burgoin in the game for the Falcons.

Two minutes left here in the first.

First half, second quarter.

Annie Nice.

Randlet plays it back.

Mackenzie Watson, she of the goal.

Back in play.

Well, Nokomis would like to get a second one here, but they would like at least to be able... Oh, that's a beautiful save.

I cost a wow, that was a bomb.

- Good sharp shot.

Nice save.

- Yeah, I was going to say if the Nakomas could get a second goal here, they would jump into great momentum heading here into halftime.

They've still got a minute 10 left here on the offensive end and that was a beautiful save by Costa.

- And I think on the opposite side of that, I think if Freeport holds them here to only that one goal, I think they can go into halftime with a little bit of confidence themselves because they played a nice offensive game the second quarter.

- Yeah, I think that's what they'll build on.

They'll say, "Hey, listen, we were close.

You know, we had corners.

We had opportunities.

We're going to cash in on one of those.

Stay the course."

So they'll get 30 seconds here to see if they can make some magic happen here.

Falcons will have to fly.

Arichelle will put it in play.

She's getting the spot.

Now she's gone.

Comes on the far side.

I'd like to get in a position where she can cross it if she can, but Andy Knight says, "I know what you're trying to do."

Stayed right with her.

- That takes a lot of patience defensively too, to stay with that kid on that side and not stick your stick in there.

If you just keep them on the outside and disrupt the pass coming across, you've done your job and that's great defense.

- Yeah, just trying to beat them to the spot where the cross pass would occur.

- Right.

You don't always have to grab the ball.

- Well, that's going to round out the first half of play here in the Class B State Championship field hockey game.

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- We rejoin you here at halftime, one nothing.

The early goal by McKenzie Watson has held up in this one.

And a one-nothing lead for the Nakoma Suarez.

As you said, Mo, the kids had some chances.

The Falcons had some chances, so they can rest on that.

Hope they can come out and build at that in the second half of the game as we get set to go down to the Sportsmanship Awards.

We're waiting for the PA announcer that will tap into - And here we go.

- Association and the NBA State Student Advisory Committee.

It's an honor to present the Sportsmanship Banner in field hockey.

This past season, athletic administrators, coaches, and players voted for a school most deserving of the sportsmanship banner.

Each school selected has displayed respect, fair play, honesty, and a true love for the game.

This award is a reflection of a school's entire regular season.

We're pleased to recognize the main class B Bulldogs of Lawrence High School.

Here to receive the award today is Coach Shauna Robinson along with players Piper Carter, Nat Grard, Riley O'Neill, Anna Rogers, Willow Simpson, Georgia Johnson, Allie Caverly, Isa LaPlante, Emily Pelletier, Izzy Proud, Charlotte Hamilton, Kennedy Pelot, and the ball girl, Izzy Rogers.

Congratulations to the Bulldogs of Lawrence High School on receiving a Sportsmanship Banner Award.

- So it looks like that will be the extent of the championship awards, but we've got something special brewing down on the field.

We told you about Mackenzie Watson getting the lone goal of the game.

Well, when a kid scores a goal, you know what we do?

We get their grandparents on for an interview when Bird will be down on the field.

And we will take a look at that interview as soon as Quinn is set up.

When you're set to go, Quinn, take it away.

- Hi, we're here joined today with Mackenzie Watson's family.

Do you guys want to introduce yourselves real quick?

- I'm her mom, Jenny.

- And I'm a proud grampy.

- You mentioned a proud grandfather, but overall of how this team, how proud of you for them getting this far?

- Very proud.

They're an amazing group of girls that work hard and support each other all the time.

- And this new coach has done a great job.

The girls are into this and they're focused.

They're ready to play.

- You guys are so far up by one.

What are your thoughts on this game?

- They need to work harder.

- They got to give it a little bit more.

Freeport's a really good team and they got to work hard.

I think they'll achieve the final goals.

- What are your thoughts on this weather so far?

- Kenzie's played all of her life and we played in pouring rain, sunshine, hot snow.

We've even played snow.

So it is good.

They'll do it all.

- Being as cold as it is, everybody's enjoying the weather.

- Thank you guys.

Back you guys up in the booth.

- Well, you always enjoy it when you're in the lead and they are in the lead and let's see how we got here.

It'll take a look at the first half stats.

Momentally.

- Yeah, we take a look at these stats and thanks Sharon for compiling these.

Take a look at shots on goal.

We knew this was... Nicomas came out early, had a couple shots.

The first goal was on the first shot.

So they've got five shots, Freeport's got eight.

Take a look at defensive saves.

There's one big one for Nicomas.

And then goalie saves.

Anna Russell has made seven saves.

Lydia Costa has made four.

Freeport's got the edge on corners with six, and Nicomas has three.

And again, if you take a look at the importance of corners, Nokomis has only gotten one shot on their three corners, and Freeport hasn't gotten any shots on their corners.

So the importance of corners is going to play a big deal, I think, in the second half, Rob.

But it's like we knew they were going to be really, really tight to begin with.

And I think Freeport came out, got hit in the face with that first goal.

And since then, I think they've played a real tough defense and it's a pretty even game.

- Well, that's what you got to be.

You've got to get the tie before you can get the win, and sometimes you've got to put bad luck behind you, and that's exactly what happened that first goal.

Kind of what you would might say was a soft goal.

It looked like a little miscommunication on the back end between the the keeper and the defenseman.

And as it happened, it trickled in home, and Nicoma certainly would take it.

But credit to the Falcons staying with it, coming back, and they're set for a second half play, and all they've got to do is get the equalizer, and that's anybody's game here as we step into the second half.

So we'll take a break.

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Well, keys to the second half here.

Mo McNally for both teams.

- Well, I think, I think actually they're pretty similar.

I think the defenses on both sides have played very, very tough.

We take a look at the shots on goal and it's eight to five, which tells us we need to finish in the circle, not only just the first shot, but the secondary shot.

Six and three in corners, which means that both teams have had opportunities in the penalty corners, but in the offensive end, but they've got a finish in there, so we've got to find somebody that's got to get that extra stick length and poke a goal in.

So I think it's the pressure's on the offense on both sides for the second half.

- Full half to play.

As we wind down, get a good look there at Reese Moulton getting set to go.

You're just joining us.

The Warriors are in the dark uniforms.

Falcons flying left to right in the whites.

Well, we just saw the Billy Joel promo and he has a great line from one of his songs, "It's either sadness or euphoria."

And that's what you get when you get to the state championship.

You're either sad or it's euphoria.

- I just hope, and I say this to coaches, I try to say this to coaches every year.

I just hope they take some time to enjoy it because you know as well as I do, Rob, and it's easy for us to say up here, but these are the last two teams.

These teams have made it this far.

They should enjoy every minute they're here and, and I know that both teams obviously want to win, but I hope over the next few days they take the time to realize what they've done and how they've gotten here.

- Yeah, it's, it's hard you're talking, as you know, Mo, to somebody that lost three state championships in football back to back years in 97, 98, and I'm still working on that to try to enjoy it.

- Well, I can, I can identify with that.

I can't tell you how many times I lost to Scouhegan in the Eastern Maine finals, and it takes more than a couple days, but... So I should have taken my own advice.

- Yeah, it's... But it's, it's, it's, it's true.

Okay, we got a good one going here.

Let's get back to it.

Hyper Larashell, she's had a lot of touches in the first half on that.

Far side, now she's on the near side to us.

Nicomas, Annie Nice.

Annie's been kept a little under check here, but she can go at any time.

And you see right here the stick work that she has, look at that maneuver right Right.

Well, right on Hugh goes Andy.

That was a nice kick out save by Costa.

Don't you like it when you set up an athlete and they do exactly what you're talking about, Annie?

Nice boy.

She turned it right here.

Watch this right here, what an athletic play that is.

Puts a ball where she can get a clean hit and Costa, beautiful right pad saved.

- Costa was on the correct angle.

Sorry Andy coming in with the stick work and it was at the right angle, but actually excellent play by both players, no question.

- That one's going to go out over the line.

So it'd be a corner.

Well the chance for Nokomis to go into the driver's seat here.

Wasn't it great to hear from Mackenzie Watson's family?

At halftime, nice job by Quinn down on the field.

Quinn will be with us post game as well for some interviews.

Mave Rush got a through.

Ball came through.

Back to Rush.

Trying to turn on her she does.

Some good stick work there and clear it out.

Nice job by Kennedy Daigle for the Falcons to clear that out.

- Right sometimes Freeport played an excellent defense inside that corner and it's tough to be patient in there but they stayed with their man, stayed with their marks, didn't get their sticks in, played a real tight defense on that corner.

- Little double team rush but she won't care.

She'll drill it down trying to get her any nice but that was a laser beam.

That's headed to Route 95.

Beautiful sight for a state championship game.

Just unbelievable complex here at the new Edward Little High School.

That's bonded back by nice.

Looked like she was sacrificed bunning in softball.

Picked up by the Falcons.

They're looking to rush.

They'll come down the side.

We're going.

- Again, patient defense, real patient defense.

Kept her on the outside.

- Came through to parody.

Parody got dispossessed.

Let's see, Ritz was on the dispossession but went out off her and it'll be Nicoma's warrior ball.

Just underway here in the second.

We'll have second half action of this one then the class C game.

Coming up on championship Saturday.

Other championships going on around the state.

We're a little busy here.

I'm not quite sure how soccer's going, but that's going on around the state as well.

- And a tribute on a day like today of all the schools that have changed the surfaces to turf surfaces so we can play these games on days like today.

- Exactly.

Now you'd be 10 years ago as we said hunting around for a field.

I mean Thornton Academy had turf and maybe Hampden back in that timeframe.

They had an early Turf field.

They used to play the soccer games up there for years and years and years because they did have the Turf field.

- Right.

- Now it's much more ubiquitous with Turf.

And in a state like Maine, it makes perfect sense.

- All sense in the world.

- Dispossessed.

Here come the Falcons, a chance here.

- Good stip work.

- Waiting for some help is Ritz.

She's in front in the circle and - - Nice move.

- She causes a corner.

Megan Ritz, the senior forward, you saw her getting a good close up of her.

- She's headed to St.

Lawrence next year to play field hockey.

- The view from the cage.

- So we'll see how this goes.

- We're going in.

Clean hit.

The shot doesn't get through but I think we'll dodge a bullet if you're a Nakomas Warriors fan.

Went off of one of the Falcons.

Getting a look at Annie Russell, Ianna Russell in goal.

Wanson couldn't get it through and accepted by Porter.

It was kind of top.

Lydia Porter.

She'll lay it off now to Lara Shell.

Piper trying to get it through.

Good defense there by Nikomas and taking off to the side safely and Larry will dribble by brush.

She that can do it all, Coach McNally.

- She she certainly is multidimensional as far as this game goes.

She's played solid offense, she plays solid defense and she's always a threat to score.

So she's one of those players that any coach would love to have on your field.

- Falcons trying to set the attack.

They snake it through but intercepted and taken off wide here by the Warriors.

Stick to stick, to rush.

Tricky dribbles through.

Threw ball nicely connected to Annie nice.

Nice.

Trying to get it through.

She had a player there around he but not able to get it to her and that forward.

Rustin's up in the corner and you'll see Annie Nice.

- Nice transition to the open spaces too.

They were dribbling and found people on those passes.

They were in open space, got themselves out of the clutter.

- Threaded it through beautifully here.

You get nice and good close look up here.

Every corner pivotal now.

Connected out here to Randlet and Randlet gets it back.

Randlet's going to let it go.

Didn't get through.

Now it's there and... - Perfect example of the held whistles.

Held the whistle while Nikomis had the ball.

Held the whistle for Nakomis to take a follow up shot and then they lost the ball on the outer bounds.

So nice little piece of officiating right there.

- And that ball drilled up field.

- Number 14, Charlotte Sikorsky.

- Charlotte Sikorsky, the freshman back in the game for the Falcons.

She's had a good freshman year for coach Marsha Wood.

Nakomas trying to safely transition in the defensive end, but some good stateutedness by Lydia Porter.

All folks have their own celebration down on the field.

Falcons couldn't get it through.

Watson with some defense there for the Nakomas Warriors.

521.

We're into the third quarter.

And now it's something.

Didn't catch up more.

It was off the ball.

- Huh.

I'm not sure I saw it either because it wasn't so it couldn't have been a five yard.

I'm not really sure.

- Well, it's going to resolve the corner.

- Yes it is.

- Yeah, we, we didn't see it because we didn't have the camera there because something happened in behind.

- Yeah, it wasn't a... - Well at any rate, Freeport with a great opportunity here to build a short corner.

They didn't find O just wide.

Oh, almost a tip in there.

There was an opportunity for Swarovski.

- Good place.

Clear shot.

Just exactly what they wanted to do.

- Watch it right here from our end zone camera.

You see it right inside and just triple wide.

So Freeport getting some opportunities here in the third to get the equalizer.

Change your field on the aerial.

Nice trying to tip it through.

Can't do it and Kennedy Daigle, some defense but Nakomis quickly puts it back in play.

Daigle with it here.

Couldn't get it passed.

Mave Rush Rush spins.

Double teamed and loses.

Well they're paying particular attention as they should to Mave Rush.

Just a sophomore.

Ariel knocked down and Nacomus ball.

McCarthy got it through trying to connect with Emmons.

Emmons lost it.

Little collision between two of the Warriors, but they were able to possess it enough that Tulus took it to the side.

- I think Freeport's got to stay in that little short passing game too.

Don't necessarily need the long ball, you need the correct pass, the short passing game so that people can collect them, bring it into the circle that way.

- Ritz lost it.

Nicomas.

Rush, reverse dick to space.

Ranlet put it quickly back in play.

Falcons with some good defense.

Porter.

Out of space but track down there by Ava Burke.

Burke didn't a good look at her.

She'll lose it.

Gets it back.

A good battle there between Emmons and Burke.

Ava Burke to rush.

Rush.

Played it off.

One of the Falcons so it'd be Nikoma's ball, the aerial down the open space.

Nice, knocks it down.

Nice.

Good defense there.

Quick stick there by Della McCarthy.

But Nakomas in deep.

Ranlet to put it in.

Nakomas will stay with us that look like a dead in the feet of Porter.

Played back.

Let me see what the call is here.

- Yeah, I think it was an injury.

- Injury maybe.

- Yeah, it looks like an injury substitution.

- There's a Randlet that was... Well whoever's injured I think was substituted in, so back in play by Delanie Randlet.

Randlet takes it deep.

Looking set up across if she can, couldn't do it.

Pretty well defended there.

- Freeport's been playing well in the defensive end.

Newport, Nicole's got to find a way to get inside the circle and get a shot off.

And they're few and far between right now.

- Watson.

But he kind of delayed and Watson throw it in and it went wide.

Aerialed out.

Nakomas, open side, chases on.

Schultz protecting the ball with her body.

Now she'll play it back.

Dispossess.

Comes Rush.

Mave Rush.

Double team, but she's still got it.

Gets it in front of shot to kick out save.

Warriors had a good rush by Rush.

And that'll end our third quarter so in almost for the Warriors, we will head into the fourth quarter.

A one nothing lead for the Warriors over the Falcons.

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- Rob Munzing, Mo McNally, Quinn Bird down on the field.

We'll hear from Quinn in the post-game is she'll talk to some of the players and coaches.

It's been a great day for field hockey.

We've had two great games.

Champions.

- Exactly.

Showcases of excellent skills.

We're seeing tight defenses.

We're seeing pressure offenses.

Every facet of the game we've seen in these first two games have been a lot of fun to watch.

But boy, we're in a battle right now, Rob, a one to nothing ball game going into the third quarter.

Both teams have had some shots.

Both teams have had some corners.

This it comes right down to this quarter and who's going to push a little bit stronger than someone else?

- Well, as I used to tell teams of mine that were behind, you got to tie it before you can win it.

So that's the mantra for the Falcons and the Warriors, they don't want to go into a show.

They want to stay on the attack because they know with their good defense and obviously Ian Russell is Stalwart and Gold.

If they can get a two goal lead.

- Right.

- If we get a tie game, all bets are off.

We'll have a Donny Burke right to the end.

- That's right.

Two goals in a game like this is almost insurmountable.

But if you can tie it up, and we took a lot, Coach Glancy's given me shots on goal.

Freeport only had one that quarter for nine total.

Nakomas had four that quarter, so in terms of shots on goal, Nicomas had a little bit of an edge that had that quarter.

- Well, obviously Freeport wants to keep this high powered Nakomas Warriors team under check, but at some point they're going to have to open up a little bit.

Then when roll through to be Falcon's ball.

- You're actually right, Rod.

They've been playing tight defense.

There's n question about it.

But somewhere along the line, they're going to have to look to the offense to carry the ball and get it up through.

I think they're playing a lot of defense because of the pressure that Nicomus is putting on them, but they've got to find a breakthrough here somewhere and get back up into the circle for a shot or a corner.

- Well, Nicomus will kill some Clark by coming back with it.

Open the field up.

They connect smartly up with Burke.

Ava throws it ahead.

Good looking possession here for the Warriors as they'll come down the near side with Randlet.

She's looking to get the cross, plays it out to Nice.

Nice through traffic.

Nice.

She's in nice shoots and a save.

Annie Nice.

A quick restart.

Missed reverse stick there and taking a tumble down when Mackenzie Watson Watson's got the lone goal.

That was really early in the first couple of minutes.

- Right.

- Later, midfield, Warriors.

They'll stay on the attack.

Ava Burke, right in front of you.

Spun that one out of bounds on the line.

Trying to find a lane through, get a through ball, can't connect on it as that.

Warriors' defense is stout.

This one goes back a little deeper than they like.

Boudreau's going to chase it down.

Nice pass to connect.

Into the offensive side of the field, but deflected up and away from Mackenzie Watson.

Well, Falcons would like to get on the offensive, see if they can't get a corner or two and get the equalizer.

Almost a dispossession and it will be.

Charlotte Swarovski.

La Rochelle will come up.

They said, no, not there.

Back there, Piper.

There she goes.

- You could take a look at the Nokomis midfield with Mave Rush and Delaney Randlet.

They've been up to the task.

They've intercepted numerous balls in the midfield and not allowed a a push from Freeport.

But Freeport, you're right.

It's got to get into the circle.

We've got to get either shot or a corner.

- Megan Ritz might be one of those that can do it.

Here they come.

Emmons had a chance, came off her stick.

A pair of severance fighting for control here right in front of our on-field camera.

Played back.

That's a good playback to reset the offense.

Gonna get through.

No.

The loose has been a stall walk back there as a backline defender for the Warriors, trying to connect up with Ricker, not able to let her roll out of the Falcon's ball.

They'll try to get going quickly.

Reese Moulton with the steal.

The nice, couldn't connect.

Stepping back up with it.

Kennedy Daigle.

He's been a good defender on the back line here for the Falcons.

She make a nice play through traffic.

- She seems to have a, have a sense of where her next path is.

The correct path.

She's done a nice job bringing the ball out of the defensive end to the right.

- Well, the net's wide open because doing what she does, Anna Russell is halfway out the midfield.

- Wowza.

Goalie's coming up that far, giving a heart attack.

- Yeah.

I'd look back to see where the goalie was and she's out at the 10 yard line there.

- And she doesn't have anybody behind her.

She's out.

She doesn't... They don't pull the pullback behind her.

I didnt see in that play anyway, so it's - - Annie Nice winds up, lets it go, kicked out, easy.

Austa says I got it.

9:33.

We'll be getting ready for the class C game.

It was what, about a half hour I think in between games.

They put 30 on the clock for the warmup.

30, 35 minutes, so if you're thinking of that.

You can forget the time schedule.

Just never... It doesn't work.

Two hours.

It doesn't work.

11-1-3.

Takes more time.

Now why is she looking at her stick mode?

She got a play on there?

- Yes.

That's what I noticed at the first half.

I think she's got the... I'm sure she's got numbers on her stick which you call the play, so I'm sure that's exactly what she's looking at.

- So Freeport will defend.

Trying to get the through ball.

Watson played it back far side.

Cameron Ricker chased this errant ball down and she doesn't mind going to chase it down because that's a tick of the clock.

Played back.

She's probably doing it because she's such a good kid, that's why she probably is helping out.

- Yeah, right.

- Nice through pass, that's well connected.

Chipped into the zone and chased down, but Rush can't handle it and Michaela Rochelle was right there for the defense for Freeport.

Good look at Maeve Rush.

As they said, Maeve will be back for a couple of more years to torment teams in class B north.

Falcons dispossessing control.

They found tough sledding through this tough defense of the Warriors.

Rush puts it in play, sticks on the ground and... So what's the rule... I know what it is in hockey, but if a stick gets loose like that and the ball hits it, what's the play?

- If a stick gets loose and the ball - - Yeah, so a player loses a stick like just happened and then the ball hits that loose stick.

- It goes the other way.

- Yeah.

That was drilled down.

That was a tough hit by Watson.

Control there, spun around Reese Moulton.

Off to Ricker.

Ricker.

There are fives going at it as on the defense as Peyton Schultz.

And I think we've got a timeout with six, 39 left.

- Which is a pretty good, that's a good timeout.

I mean, I think Coach Wood's got to talk to her kids a little bit.

Still got plenty of time.

Still a one and nothing ball game, but it gets... We're into die of nuts here to get the ball down into the offensive circle.

And as you said, Rob, Freeport's had a tough time breaking that deep defense into comas.

- Lights have been on since game one, but the heavy rain has held up, maybe some intermittent showers.

The game hasn't affected play one single bit.

As this is one of the premier turf surfaces here in the state.

One of the newer ones, about three years old now here at Edward Little High School.

- It's quite a campus.

I came in and drove around it holy.

It's a, it's a large campus.

- A beautiful gymnasium been in there.

I was here earlier in the year to watch my granddaughter play volleyball against Edward Little.

Congratulations.

The Gardner Tigers, first time ever.

State champions in volleyball.

That was last weekend.

Very exciting weekend of volleyball.

This weekend is soccer and field hockey.

Football is still going through their playoffs.

They'll have the regional finals coming up and then state finals in football weekend before Thanksgiving.

So we have still some exciting action and before we know it, we'll be underway for winter sports.

- Seems like the season goes pretty fast unless you're coaching it.

- Yeah.

- As we said, it starts in August and then goes through November and it's it goes through all kinds of weather, all kinds, all kinds of upheaval.

And then all of a sudden... But you know, in the state game, Rob, all of a sudden it comes to an end too.

- Yeah.

- Whether you win or lose, you go home the next day and thinking, I don't have to go practice or I don't have to... - As I said, Billy Joel said it.

Either sadness or euphoria explains state championship finality perfectly.

Nikoma's looking for the goal that might put it away and the Falcons saying, "We just need a break."

- And that's exactly it.

They do need a break.

- You know, we've seen how aggressive Ian or Russell has been down the other end coming out and being on the attack.

Well, maybe you get something flukish there that bounds by her.

- If they can create a 2V1 down there and pull her out, and just a little four yard pass will do it.

But she's covered all the angles and done it well.

And again, as we said, the Nikoma's defense has been tough to, tough to get through.

- That one went across the face of goal.

Nice was there, but she wasn't able to get close enough to get the tipping on the posters to get a good look at Annie.

Annie Nice is a next level player, I would think.

Coach McNally?

- I would think so.

I definitely would think so.

I mean, as we said earlier, she's had 31 goals this season and 11 assists.

- And we got... - Getting a little chippy.

Just a little chippy.

- Well, the season's on the line if you're the Falcons.

You got to get after it and then credit to them for doing it.

They're trying to push the offensive.

They've got five minutes left.

Tried to throw it through, but again, that back line defense for Nicomia, so now here's a break.

Nikomis, trying to wait for numbers, but what a great rush that was down by Ava Roundy.

Oof.

Owen, that's a kick out save.

Costa came back out and Roundy just missed it.

She's got her hands on her knees as she's played every tick of this game.

- Solid shot from just on the right side, just inside the circle, but but the goalie was on it.

Saw the angle.

Had a nice kick out.

- Ava Roundy, a freshman.

She'll be tormenting teams for the three years that she has left.

Rush, couldn't get good wood on it and kind of trickled in.

Freeport trying to change field, 4-14 left.

And Nikomis gets it down to nice.

Larachel now with it here for Freeport.

The Falcons look to go a long field.

They will throw it through and it'll bound and it has a mind of its own.

Megan Ritz caught up to it, back defensively, parody.

And they can't hear the whistle.

There's so much crowd noise.

Crowd's right into it.

- It's important here to stay composed too in the last three minutes.

You're down one, but you got to stay composed.

You don't want to look at errant passes.

You don't want to look at mistakes.

You want to stay composed down in this end.

- And of course, safety first.

If you're the warriors, take everything to the side and if you've got possession inside the offensive zone, don't be afraid to kill some dime.

On the attack was Porter but she dispossessed.

Knocked ahead by Watson.

Watson trying to get roundy.

Ava wants a reverse.

She does.

She's got a shot.

She lets it go and seals it wide.

Just couldn't get the angle enough.

That takes time.

Watch it right here, Roundy.

- One more step around and she would've had that angle.

You're right.

She's as strong an athlete as I've seen in a long time too.

Just a strong stick.

- We're going.

Trying to get the offense going.

Ahead to Emmons.

Emmons.

Dispossessed.

Good defensive play there by Talusa.

Stalwart on defense all game.

Ella Talus.

Step in here for possession.

It's Mave Rush, throws it deep.

Moulton wants to control.

Throws it in and with two minutes and 14 seconds left, Falcons will have to get on the giddy up.

They'll need to get a dispossession here off this.

They'll control.

Up over midfield.

Talus will step in.

I'm sorry, that's Parody.

He'll step in.

Kendall Oland for Nokomis.

She'll lose it.

Minute and a half.

Comes back deep.

Talus takes it wide, kills some time, throws it to the open side and just stop the stick and out of bounds offerenda.

Know she's got a hurry.

She does.

Throws a through ball.

That's a good ball.

Taking down to one minute.

Crowds on their feet.

Thrown through.

And that's going to be a corner with 57 seconds left.

- They played that exactly right.

They had had the goalie out, pushed it to the right side.

Played that exactly.

- The Falcons have taken their time out though, haven't they?

So they can't take the time out to get set.

They're going to have to play this as the clock ticks down and it looks like this will be likely the final chance for the Falcons right here.

- Right.

And they've pulled, you see they pulled their defense up.

So they've got all their 10 players up on the circle.

- They are all in.

The insertion, here it comes.

They got a clean one shot.

- Nice shot.

- Did not get through.

It was blocked.

I think it was Ella Taloose with the block.

- Wow.

- What a play by Talus.

- Absolutely.

- I don't forget a replay on that.

I believe it was Talus.

And they'll kill the remaining time.

Well, Watson.

Mackenzie Watson started it with her goal and ends it with her possession.

And state champions go to the Nokomis Warriors and the class B state final game over a very game Freeport Falcons team that just hung in there, had a corner at the end and had an opportunity, but a stop on that final corner will preserve the victory for the Nokomis Warriors and the tears of joy start to flow.

- Well, as we said, Rob, what a game.

We've had two great games this morning.

Holy, two real close games, exciting.

All facets of the field hockey game were, were covered.

We had great goalie goalie work, good midfield work.

We had shots, we had corners.

The whole play in both these games that we covered today was, was just excellent play to watch.

- Well, Lauren Neal didn't take long to get her first aid championship.

A young coach steps right to the top of the heap with her Nakomis Warriors winning a one-nothing.

State championship game to move to 17 and one on the season.

I don't know.

I'm going to ask Nick in the truck if we had that final, if we have a replay and maybe that final corner want to see who made the play inside here for the Nikomas Warriors.

And Nick's going to find that for us in the track, a pivotal play as time wound down and Nakons was able to hold off the Freeport Falcons as Freeport came up with everybody but the kitchen sink.

Here it is.

Take it through Coach McNally.

- The Corners... Yeah, it's Corners coming out from here on the left side.

It's a sharp shot.

And we... - Yeah, I had it on the call.

I called Ella Tulus and she's the one that made the play down there.

You saw her go right down with the stick.

- Right.

Parallel to the ground.

She did a great job.

And she held that back line we've been talking about all game long.

- She - Did.

Absolutely.

- Absolutely she did.

And I'm glad we get the the credit where it was due there for Ella Tulus there and you see what it's all about.

The awarding of the trophies are coming up and when they get set to go doing that, we will go to the PA announcer here for the awards down on the field.

That's what you play for right there.

Field Hockey State Championship Class B 2026.

- Shout out to both teams today, Rob.

These, both Nakomas and Freeport played extremely well.

Nakomas was the top of Class B North all season long.

Freeport came in and I know they were in the top three all season long, so it's just a great great show Field Lock in Class B.

- We don't have the mic down here for the congratulations, but let me give it to you.

God game, good game, good game, good game.

I built enough of those.

- Yeah.

- Good game, good game.

And it really was.

I'm going to replace good with great.

Great game right there for both these teams here and played their heart out.

So we will throw it to the house PA and we'll get the post season.

- Now I direct your attention... - Post-game awards.

- To midfield for the presentation of today's state championship awards.

At this time I would call Freeport head coach Marsha Wood and assistant coaches Lisa Daniel and Deidre Boudreaux for the presentation of the Runner-Up Awards.

Players will be called by class.

Beginning with freshmen, number 14, Charlotte Sikorsky.

Number 99, Allison Kelch.

Sophomores, number six, May Kaplinger.

Number seven, Eva Emmons.

Number nine, Aubrey Black.

Number 10, Kennedy Daigle.

Number 12, Allison Black.

Number 18, Avery Geier.

Juniors, number one, Piper LaRochelle.

Number two, Briella Boudreaux.

Number four, Delilah McCarthy.

Number five, Ayton Schultz.

Number eight, Zoe Blackman.

Number 11, Whitney Richards.

Number 98, Lydia Costa.

Seniors, number three, Megan Ricks.

Number 13, Lydia Porter.

Number 15, Callie Borgoy.

And number 16, Ella Lamont.

At this time, I would call the captains from Freeport to please come forward.

On behalf of the Bain Principles Association and Hammond Lumber Company, it is our pleasure to present this Runner's Up Trophy in the 2026 B Field Hockey State Championship to the Falcons of Freeport High School.

And now I would call Nokomis head coach Lauren Neal and Assistant Coach Cassie Warley to please come forward.

Once again, we begin by grade, beginning with the manager, Bree Skinner, a freshman.

Freshman players, number five, Cameron Ricker.

Number 10, Kaylee Parady.

Number 15, Kendall Olin.

Number 19, Gretchen Lane.

Number 20, Ava Roundy.

Sophomores.

Number one, Mave Rush.

Number 14, Ava Burke.

Number 18, Olivia Bullinger.

Juniors, number two, Ella Tulos.

Number three, Reese Molten.

Seniors, number four, Riley Norris.

Number seven, Delaney Randlin.

Number eight, McKenzie Watson.

Number nine, Annie Nice.

Number 24, Emily Sherrier.

And number 77, Anna Russell.

And now, with the captains from Nokomis, please come forward.

On behalf of the Maine Principles Association and Hammond Lumber Company, it is our pleasure to present this championship trophy for the 2026 MPAP Field Hockey State Championship to the Warriors of Nokomis High School.

Congratulations.

On behalf of the Maine Principals Association.

- Well, the Warriors taking it to the fans who have supported them probably since they were knee-high to grasshoppers starting to play this game.

And they're not going anywhere for the next few years, Mo McNally.

So we'll take a quick break.

When we come back, we'll have some post-game interviews down on the field with our Quinn Bird when we come back after this.

- Championship weekend on Maine Public is made possible by... - Hammond Lumber Company, a family-owned, independent lumber and building material supplier with 34 locations across Maine and New Hampshire.

- A Maine based bank with 12 branches statewide.

Scowhegan Savings is dedicated to helping you with your personal and business banking needs, branch locations and more information at scowheagan.com.

- Coastal Auto Parts, selling NAPA Auto Parts since 1981, owned and operated by a Maine family and proud to support student athletes.

- And by viewers like you.

Thank you.

- All even in the regional battle so far here as the Northern Warriors win the B game and class A, if you miss that one, the Stags won the A Game from the South.

So we'll have the rubber match coming up in the Class C game to see which superiority will win out here between the regions.

But field hockey in the state of Maine, all in all Mo McNally is in wonderful shape.

- Oh, no question, Rob.

I was thinking as you we were talking a few minutes ago about youth leagues and that kind of stuff.

20 years ago when we took a look at field hockey at the state, the south was a little, a step or two behind.

And that certainly has changed.

- Well, let's go down to Quinn Byrd down on the field.

She's got some post-game interviews.

Let's go to Quinn.

- Thanks, guys.

As we talked about earlier, this team hasn't seen a state title in over 10 years.

How does it feel to renew that?

- It feels so good, honestly.

I know that they all just wanted it so bad and I'm like, I just hope that I can help them get there.

And I think that, you know, we clearly did that, so I'm just so excited for them.

So excited for myself.

I've never experienced this, so we're going to be partying tonight, that's for sure.

- Your own Mackenzie Watson got the first and only goal of this game.

How did that set up the momentum for the rest of this matchup?

- I mean, I think it's always good when you could score first, especially for us because, you know, we've had a hard time throughout the season, like, getting scored on first, like, how do you figure that out?

So it definitely gave us the good momentum that we needed.

You know, it was... Seemed a little frantic.

Continuing on, I was a little shocked, but you know, a win's a win for that's all that matters.

- Thank you.

Back to you guys.

- Thank you, Quinn.

Nice job down on the field.

Well, that's going to wrap up the second game of the day, but don't go anywhere.

We'll have game three, Dave Chiva getting ready for the call of that one, and we'll have that for you in about half an hour here on Maine Public Sports.

I'm Rob Munsing for Mo McNally, Quinn Bird down on the field, Sharon Gallant doing our stats and all of our crew here for Maine Public Sports.

See you soon.