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Thank you.

And good afternoon, everybody.

I'm Dave Chiever, along with Abigail Hassen.

Welcome to game number three of Championship Day at Lewiston High School.

The Class B championship will be decided this afternoon between two very good teams.

The Freeport Falcons and the Belfast Lions.

Belfast Lions, <laugh> they haven't lost in 31 games.

They're back here for a second year in a row.

It's their 16th state championship game.

They're a team that has a strong program.

And I'm telling you, uh, something's gotta give here this afternoon, Ab.

Certainly does, and I'm sure Freeport's gonna have a lot to say about it.

They came here, uh, they beat a, a good Yarmouth team.

Having lost them twice in the regular season, they came back and surprised Yarmouth in the regional championship game to get their way here on Thursday.

And take a look at this.

Eight goals allowed.

And the goalie for the Belfast Lions, Nikki Shorey, has 14 shutouts this season already.

And 41 during her four years as a starter for the Lions.

That is absolutely incredible.

And for 14 in the 18 game season, you know, says a lot about her.

Well, they, they played a lot of teams over the course of their regular season.

They played nobody twice.

Yep.

And they just walked right through the Northern division.

You see the win over Coney, the five-nothing win over Gardner.

Uh, Mo McNally, we're sorry.

<laugh> And then the, the final, um, the two-nothing win over Nokomis, they come out here and they s, they scramble.

They're quick, and they attack all the time.

They certainly do.

Taking a look at the Freeport Falcons.

This is a team, uh, they, they have one of the finest fields in the state.

They have a, a nice turf field, uh, behind the high school.

You can see that, again, they don't give up a lot of goals.

They have a couple of snipers on their team.

And Marsha Wood has done a great job forming this group.

Both teams are senior laden.

Yeah.

Full, full of seniors.

And that regional final, the 1-0 win over Yarmouth, you know, they scored the only goal, 61 seconds into the game.

So we'll see if they can get going quick here in this one.

We're gonna get the introduction of the rosters.

And starting my, they're gonna walk this out.

Our officials for today's game, Crystal St.

Ange, Alyssa Bragdon and Andrew Gordon.

Now let's meet the team members, followed by the starters first for the visiting Lions of Belfast.

Manager, Jordan White.

Number four, June Noyes.

Number eight, Greta Graf.

Number 12, Charlie Miles.

Number 14, Hope Reynolds.

Number 15, Catience Parento.

Number 18, Ora Lee Woodbury.

Number 23, Ella Chase.

And number 99, Opal Woodbury.

Now the Starters.

Number one, Emily Friel.

Number two, Sophia Larabee.

Number six, Kate Lemon.

Number seven, Jocelyn Value.

Number 10, Allison Freel.

Number 11, Laura Carpenter.

Number 13, Halle Tarbox.

Number 17, Peyton Wadsworth.

Number 27, Kevin Wadsworth.

And the goalkeeper number 66, Nikki Shorey.

Belfast is coached by Jan Jackson, Assistants Britney Tarbox and Sarah Bryant.

Now for the home team, the Falcons of Freeport High School.

Team members, number one, Leah Moore.

Number four, Delilah McCarthy.

Number five, Jillian Lucci.

Number eight, Briella Boudreaux.

Number 15, Kelly Borgoin.

Number 16, Ella Lamont.

Number 17, Piper Laverchelle.

Number 18, Caroline Fairservice.

And number 98, Lydia Costa.

Now the starters.

Number two, Liza Lynn Boudreaux.

Number three, Megan Ritz.

Number seven, Sophia Brown.

Number nine, Liza Flower.

Number 11, Emily Groves.

Number 12, Gwen Dunham.

Number 13, Lydia Porter.

Number 14, Abby Cormier.

Number 19, Liliana LaRochelle.

Number 22, Peyton Schultz.

And the goalkeeper number double zero, Maddie Kryszek.

Freeport's coach by Marsha Wood.

Assistants Karen Curry and Deidre Boudreaux.

Today, we welcome all veterans and acted military members to the game, and we thank them for the service and sacrifices.

Ladies and gentlemen, now let us honor America with our national anthem.

And we are ready for field hockey.

A nice day, Abby.

I was gonna say, been ready for a few hours.

It must have been difficult for these guys to sit around.

The anticipation must just build and build.

Well.

It took them a day to warm up.

Yeah.

<Laugh> Thursday was brutal.

Right.

And these kids, last game of the day on Thursday, uh, in Yarmouth was, uh, you know, you were dropping down into the 30s and the wind, by the time you finished, you know, the - Yeah.

The real temperature was closer to 25.

Certainly was.

Wind was brutal, but I would say they'll warm up pretty quick here.

State championship action.

You can't stay cold for long.

I was talking to Crystal St.

Ange, uh, one of the officials here.

She's gonna be the lead official in this game.

Yep.

And she said, you know, you may think it's brisk, but by the time we get running this first quarter, we're gonna be plenty warm on it.

Yeah.

<Laugh> A really good crew of officials tonight.

Very excited.

Alyssa Bragnon will be on the far side.

And we're biased because we're kind of officials.

Yes.

We are.

We, we're envious of the job they get to do this afternoon.

Yes.

Um, because they're gonna see high quality field hockey.

Both of these teams come in here and not only do they expect to win, they know that it's gonna take an effort to win because they have respect for the other team.

Oh, yeah.

They have not seen each other in, what, years?

So it'll be interesting to see how people just in game.

Already looking at how they set it up.

Freeport will begin with the ball and they're looking like a 3-3-3.

Yeah.

Or three, three, two, one.

Um, I think they're gonna have an idea of who they have to stop and just how much they're gonna have to come back to help out on defense.

I would bet that the coaches spent some time scouting in the last 24 hours.

Good rush.

Being put on here by L- Liza Flower.

She's the one that they have to pay attention to.

A great cross.

Nice.

Nice cross.

Nobody home.

Little bit deep on the crossing path.

You know, if you're gonna be weak post, <laugh> you wanna have it within stick length.

Yes.

Freeport ball.

Drawing a crowd in the corner.

Trying to center.

Comes into the circle and it goes up off of Belfast stick.

It'll be a 25-yard hit.

I'm an in at the 25.

Freeport's off too.

Nice start.

Pressuring right up.

And these teams have set plays off both opportunities, whether it's a penalty corner or the 25-yard hit.

And see how they attack.

Good play in there.

Keep the ball out of trouble by Kevin Wadsworth.

Ball goes out of bounds, remains.

Freeport Falcons.

Nice drive.

Crossing into the center.

Still looking for help.

Good defensive pressure.

And flowers.

Trying to see if they're, they're committing one player to mark up on number nine in, in Maroon.

Yeah, you can't let her get going.

I can't.

And this is a kid who's averaging a point and a half a game.

And I don't care if you're playing in a, a middle school team as a high schooler that you just don't see that kind of production every day.

Here she has a fall on her stick.

Draws some attention.

Lion's coming back.

Oh, nice play.

Get on the turnaround.

Come up the sideline, left side.

Find some room.

On the run.

Emily Groves, captain for the Falcons, looking to center.

And gets a stick obstruction call.

Gonna be a free hit.

Left side.

Into the circle and we got a corner.

First corner of the night.

Ball went up off the foot, was gathered in by the Belfast Lions, and they say, no.

You wanna hold on that just in case, uh, Freeport wants.

But i- if you're in the circle, you'd rather take the corner than just give the ball over.

This is one of the things both coaches had mentioned earlier this week.

When I say earlier this week, I mean yesterday.

<laugh> Because they didn't know who they were gonna play.

Right.

Both these teams have penalty corner plays.

Good ball.

Uh - Unlucky.

Unlucky indeed.

Goes off the foot.

Belfast ball.

But they were saying that they have plays set up to do the corners that the other team has not yet seen.

Again on the attack.

Trying to find some help.

Stepping in again.

Stepping right in.

Not being shy.

Liliana La Rochelle.

The aggrieved party on that.

Crystal St.

Onge setting the play.

Liza Lynn Boudreau.

Attacking the circle.

And they're gonna say, yep.

Little bit of a stick, stick obstruction.

Really needed to get the ball on that rather than stick.

Yeah, that's the ball.

Ooh, nice play.

It's.

A great knockdown.

Emily Groves keeps it alive, goes to the end line, and a 16-yard hit for the Belfast Lions.

Got two balls on the field.

It'd be nice if they let you play with two.

I was gonna.

Say they could try that sometime.

<laugh>.

Belfast really utilizes those aerials.

That's what?

They're third in the first five minutes.

There's another one.

Or an attempt.

Play forward.

Into the offensive end of the f - the field.

Intercepted.

Nice play by Gwen Dunham.

Coming down the right side.

Oh, good intercept.

Belfast on the counter attack.

Has a little bit of room.

Shadowing up the play.

Dunham tries to contain the lines.

Doesn't work.

Far side, Jocelyn Valu steps inside.

She beats two.

Nice defensive play to keep it from going in the circle, but it's gonna remain Belfast ball.

Free hit below the 25.

People gotta spread out here.

Oof.

Run down.

On the attack.

And there's a corner.

Stick obstruction in the circle by the Freeport Falcons and the Belfast Lions get to show off one of their set plays.

Matty Kryzek in goal for Freeport.

Yet another of the senior leaders that he's got.

Both teams are loaded with senior leaders.

Yeah, which means there's a lot of seniority here and a lot of people who have been here done that.

So easier to settle in.

Uh, beautiful cross.

Kept in bounds.

Scramble in front.

Uh, rate, saved by Pryzak.

Laid it out.

Ball is cleared and over the sideline.

It will remain Belfast ball.

Offensive flurry by the Lions just couldn't put it in on the far side.

Krysak is not afraid to get on the ground.

Again in the circle.

Trying to find some room.

Plays it back outside.

Picked off.

And Flower not happy.

Collisions will occur, but that one, that one looked a little more intentional than accidental.

Yeah, it did.

On the run.

Boudreau is intercepted.

Back comes Beltfest.

This is gonna go out of bounds before it goes over the end line.

Just a little too strong.

Maybe dial back.

Well, the adrenaline's bit up, don't you think?

Oh, absolutely.

Yeah, and it'll take a minute to settle in, but with that senior leadership, you would think it would happen pretty quick.

On the intercept, good play, and we're getting another stick obstruction this time on Groves.

She says, thank you.

Good intercept.

By Megan Ritz.

Oh.

Lydia Porter commits the infraction.

<laugh> I didn't mean to knock her down.

<laugh> Nice.

Great ball movement.

Flat pass.

Putting some pressure on here.

And - A. Little too high.

Yeah, ball comes up.

Yeah, that's a tough play to, to pull off and keep it low to the ground like that.

Yeah.

On the run.

Good battle.

Beautiful.

Nice, nice play by Laura Carpenter.

Guess what grade she is?

Uh, like a senior?

Yeah.

You weren't gonna get a second guess.

<laugh>.

If I didn't get that one, I didn't deserve a second guess.

Allison Friel couldn't keep the ball in play.

16 yard hit.

Five and a half minutes to go, first quarter.

Class B state championship game.

And the perfect conditions here.

Dry field.

Win not too bad.

Nice play.

Keeping the ball in bounds by groves.

And again.

Probably should have collared floor after that one.

Sending the ball ahead to Ritz.

Ritz.

Trying to find some help.

Oof.

And ball knocked out of bounds by flower.

Lyons with the ball.

Again with the aerial.

Well, they really like it.

I mean, it's working if they can find somebody in space.

What gets you?

Out of traffic.

Mm.

Substitution for three points.

Three ports of attack.

This could happen.

Nice.

Beautiful.

Nice save.

Little more difficult to hear the Belfast fans on the other side.

We can still hear them.

Hey.

Excited about that stop.

Nikki Shorey had great position on that save.

And picks the ball out of bounds.

I gotta say it's going to be a corner.

I don't think at this point there's anything that could happen on the field that Nikki Shorey is not prepared for.

<laugh> She sees the whole field.

Yep.

Yeah, again, a very good group of officials today.

Variation number three.

Ooh.

Uh, just wide.

Just wide.

Keep from pressure on.

Yeah, that looked like that play went right how they wanted it to.

Just - Yep.

Just a bit shy.

Set.

Up.

La Rochelle just outside.

But strong side post was there.

It just couldn't redirect the ball.

Yep, she was ready for it.

Just -.

Again.

The arrow.

Short.

Now they're gonna get 40 yards down field.

Yeah.

And it has a soft bounce, so you can run to it, whereas a drive, it can really get away from you quick.

Good attempt to center.

St.

Onge is moving the play.

No, she wants it moving closer to the end line.

Little dance in the corner.

Into traffic.

Good defense by Freeport.

On the step-in.

Ball knock up and.

Boy, a lot of out of bounds.

Not a lot of space for Belfast to get through.

Well, this is the sort of thing, you know, we were talking about the keys to the game.

They're gonna drop their defense back and, and make it difficult for a ball to go through cleanly.

Right.

And then where's the trouble coming from?

Got it.

So they got the circle.

Now cleared.

Oh, another corner.

It's gonna say a third party obstruction, and I'll have to admit, I didn't see it.

I didn't.

I was.

I was looking the other way.

<laugh> But I'm sure it was there.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have called it.

Again, on the inbounds.

Interesting formation here for the Lions.

All right?

Who's gonna take the shot?

Ball goes off the stick, I believe.

That's off Freeport.

But that cancels out the corner, so the girls ditch the masks over the end line.

Play in.

Uh, and stick obstruction.

Says St.

Onge.

Ball goes the other way.

Edge calls another wack.

In.

Lemon knocked it in.

Off Freeport and out of bounds.

And.

Flower comes back and helps on D. Which I think is gonna happen a lot.

Yeah, she's gotta help.

Ah.

She has, she has the ball and -.

Here she goes.

Good foot speed.

God.

Speed.

Alyssa Bragdon, far side, says no.

Stick obstruction belongs to Flower.

And that'll do it for the first quarter of action here at the Lewiston High School field in the State Class B Championship.

At the end of one, no score.

Belfast Lions and the Freeport Falcons.

We'll be right back.

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Nothing like the Revolutionary War had been fought.

It's the radical idea.

Ordinary Americans won the war.

I don't think you can be patriotic enough about them.

Everyone's convinced the virtue of the cause is helping them win.

And we're back looking in the Freeport Falcon huddle as we get ready for the second quarter of play here in the State Class B championship game.

Hey, if you missed one of the championship games earlier today, congratulations Foxcrop Ponies and the Shover Stags.

And you might wanna watch either one of those, or maybe even this one.

Maine public is re-broadcasting all of the field hockey state final games tomorrow.

Starting at 8:00 AM with a Class C matchup, followed by the Class A game at 10.

And then this game will be replayed tomorrow noon, just before you start your football viewing.

Oh yeah, that sounds pretty good.

Have a little coffee, watch some field hockey.

Watch the highlights.

Couple of nice games already, and we've got a third one going here.

Yeah, great games.

Again, Freeport will open up with the ball to start the second quarter.

Catflower.

Sends it back.

Or even first, first quarter.

On the run.

Peyton Wadsworth looking for somebody in white taking it out wide.

Nice play there.

Allison Freel throws a crowd, looking to set her, sends it over the end line.

Not intentionally.

Of course not.

But she, you know, she was essentially looking at one on three and ran out of room.

Right.

Good to stretch that field out, go wide.

Bros.

Ooh.

Crystal thinks that that ball was hit into.

Yep.

Played off the foot.

Couldn't be controlled by Holly Tarbox.

She's waiting to get going here.

She's, she's dangerous.

Jan Jackson says that, you know, Tarbox and Peyton Wadsworth have been everything that you'd ask of your captains.

You know, kept things composed.

They don't get panicky.

And Tendall let the game come to them, but when they, when the game comes to them, they grab control.

Yeah.

On the, on the go, almost overrunning.

And.

Oh.

Coming back the other way.

Yeah.

Stick obstruction on the offensive player.

Passes and control, and now they're gonna call third party obstruction.

Picking it right up.

It's Cayman Wadsworth.

She leaves it.

They step in.

She has room.

Into the.

Circle.

Somebody can put a stick on it.

Yeah.

Now they got.

The corner.

Rewarded with the corner.

It's the other thing that we see at the higher level.

These girls don't wait around on a free hit.

Yeah.

You know, if you wanna move them back, you better talk to them pretty quickly because otherwise that ball is moving.

I. Yeah, there have not been a lot of corner opportunities.

Only five between the two teams, so this is number six.

We'll see if they can cart on this one.

There's a strong ball, but no whistle play on.

Well, it's deflected high and out of bounds.

Not out of bounds, out of the circle.

So the penalty corner is over, but a Lions.

Oh, nice play.

Maddie Kryzek kicked the ball over the sideline.

Not a lot of room in that corner.

Ah, it just missed that.

Another 16 yard hit.

Uh, I think you can pick it up at home.

The out of bounds lines are the blue lines.

Don't go by the football markings on the field.

Oh, Flower.

Has.

Some room.

They're angling her off coming down the left side.

Flower puts the brakes on, takes a look, wants to center, and does.

Great ball.

Good stick seals by Flower.

Uh, they had stacked up four girls between her and the goal.

Good luck getting it in.

Uh, they were not giving her an open lane, that's for sure.

Packed it right in.

Waiting on everybody else to come meet her.

Looks like she called five yards.

Yeah, go back to the spot of the infraction.

Yep.

Hmm.

Now on the go.

The lions come in.

It's gonna be stick obstruction.

Sophia Larabee putting the pressure on.

Inside the 25, centering pass about to come in.

The ball goes up and.

Like you said, Dave, these teams are not wasting any time.

And now the corner, as they're below the 25, the blue line at the 25 yard line, committed infraction in there and it, it can be bumped up to a corner.

Another opportunity here for the Lions.

Girls retrieve the mask.

The masks are new this year.

The, the plexiglass shields.

Had a game earlier this year, Abby.

<laugh> Girl was so nervous.

She actually threw up in the.

Mask.

Oh, gosh.

It was her, her mask for the rest of the game.

Yeah, I would think so.

That shouldn't be shared.

Oh.

Another wide.

Shot.

Just wide.

Peyton Wadsworth lined it up.

Nice drive.

Here you go.

A good, good look at it.

Just wide, and she was just a little bit late.

You wanna grab that strong side post as fast as you can.

But if your, if your playing partner's gonna put it on goal that fast, tip might be a little difficult.

And we're gonna get the corner again.

This time the infractions on Lillian La Rochelle.

Belfast Lions making a living here on these corner attempts.

See if they can convert one.

See the time in the second quarter.

St.

Ange blows the whistle.

Ooh, that girl came in right off the bat.

Thank God she's wearing that mask.

Coulda lost an eye.

Bit of a dangerous play.

Fell fast ball.

Came off the body.

And now we're just outside the circle.

This is a little tricky.

She has to go the five yards to find somebody to hit it.

I was gonna say, it's a little more difficult to go that five yards when you're so close to the circle and you just wanna hit it in.

And again, coming out.

Open space.

Flower.

Flips it up.

Yeah, you can't let flower of open space.

She's pretty skill.

She's staying on her.

And she's gonna have to bring that back for sure.

That ran a little bit.

See, that's one where you're actually rewarding the defending player.

Right.

She's already by.

Oh, great hustle.

Great attempt to get over the ball.

All goes over the end line.

It's gonna be a 16 yard hit for the Belfast lines.

The ball girls on the sideline are definitely staying warm running around, chasing them.

And there's another one in the ride.

Boy, they're knocking on the door though.

Both teams are really getting closer and closer.

Yeah, good ball.

Sure he had the angle in it.

I don't think she was too - Another.

Area.

This is one on four.

Did you get it?

No.

Great hustle back by three court.

Yeah, again, defense get rewarded because the ball went a little too far and they can set up their defense.

Trying to find some room.

Far side.

Lydia Porter leaves it on the sideline.

Free hit for the Falcons.

Into the circle.

Oof.

Kick out.

Nice save.

Isaac.

Back in.

Great defensive stand.

Finally cleared.

Tour.

Quarter.

Trying to move around.

Gets it to the 50.

Bring the ball just about to midfield.

Good knockdown.

She's not afraid of that.

And off goes Flower.

First time she's gone to the right.

Now still has a little bit of room.

Couldn't get on it.

Ella goes in the corner and over the sideline.

Wait, Belfast must be having a sigh of relief after Flower got, like, out open in the field.

They're having trouble freeing up somebody on the weak side.

Right.

To give her a passing angle.

But her individual skills in getting the ball, you know, 60 yards downfield on her own dribble is pretty extraordinary.

She is certainly skilled.

There's room and the reach in by La Rochelle slows the play down Belfast again with a free hit.

Sends it in.

On the run, Allison Freel.

Good defense again by the Falcons.

Back to Freel.

Freel.

Coming out.

Good.

Call for the violation.

Coming out.

Kept that ball in.

That was Riley close.

Seeing a stick obstruction.

Groves does a pretty good job bringing the ball up the left side too.

Yeah.

Freeport certainly utilizes that left side.

We're getting a very good look at Freeport over here.

Tarabox sends the ball ahead.

Wadsworth.

And again with the stick obstruction, flips it back.

Actually taking it further back than they need it to, but Freeport's not gonna be too concerned with that.

Again, Groves.

She does a nice job.

Going right through.

Hodding away.

And ball goes off her foot.

Tarabox sends the ball ahead to Freel.

Freel looking to center and does.

Coming all the way back to Tarbox.

And -.

Yeah, corner.

Draws the corner.

See what they got for this one.

Tough play.

L- Liliana LaRochelle was coming in on defense.

Got more of the stick.

There it is.

And looks like she moved.

She ran right over the ball.

Ran right over the ball.

So - I think you're allowed.

To.

Do that.

Not in this sport, no.

I. Was gonna say, Crystal St.

Onge certainly knows better than me, so I trust her.

Way over that.

<laugh> Right?

Different look on the corner for the Lions.

Oh, nice piece of work by.

Tarbox.

Good save.

Bautiful save.

Ah.

Raised and -.

Ryzak got a nice.

She came out, what?

Yeah.

She was -.

Five yards from the goal?

She was out there.

Yeah, she.

Was out there.

I think it was a stick save, and boy, she was pretty fired up and she deserves to be.

She's doing a nice job in there.

Topped it into the circle.

Still got in there.

And another corner.

<Laugh> If at first, you don't succeed.

Give up.

Give it up.

Here we go.

Okay, they're flipping it again.

Like what Jan Jackson's doing here.

She's calling the corner.

This is a corner setup Freeport hasn't seen from Belfast.

Yeah, you gotta keep him off balance.

Don't let them get too comfortable.

Wow.

That thing was coming in hot.

And a little too hot.

First, first shot on goal on a corner has to be below 18 inches in height.

That was just a bit higher.

<laugh>.

Just a little bit.

And had some steam on it.

Uh, obstruction call on flour.

Kate Lemon.

Groves can't collect it.

Tries to stay out of the way.

Tarbox with it.

And they say third party obstruction.

Back comes Groves.

Well, they're trying to use all the 22 seconds left on the clock.

See if they can get something going to goal.

St.

Ange let's bring it over here where the infraction occurred.

Moving it over, it'll take a little extra time.

That'll, that'll chew it up for the half.

A lot of action.

But not a lot to choose between these two regional champions.

The State Class B. Championship is yet to be decided as we're scoreless at the half between the Belfast Lions and the Freeport Falcons.

Don't go away, folks.

Got plenty more action for you.

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On the weekend Sunday nights, we love Masterpiece.

Uh, but there's just so many great shows and, uh, it's very refreshing to have Maine Public, uh, broadcasting.

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Mission accomplished.

Welcome back to Lewiston High School in State Championship Field Hockey Day.

Game number three.

Class C champions, the Foxcroft Ponies, Class eight champions, the Chevrolet Stags.

And here, we're scoreless at the half.

Ethan Snow is down sideline, and he has a very interested party standing by.

Interesting party indeed, Dave.

I'm joined alongside by Michael Hoffer right here.

Formerly of the forecaster in the greater Portland area.

Now out on his own.

And chances are, if you've been to a game in the greater Portland area, no matter the season, you've seen him roaming the sidelines.

Hoffer, thank you for joining us here.

Formerly of The Forecaster.

Now you're out on your own.

You've been on your own now since the springtime.

How's that been going?

What have been the benefits of being your own boss at this point?

Well, I mean, that's basically it.

It's, it's great to be able to just cover what I want too.

I, I still wish I could be everywhere.

That, that doesn't happen.

But, you know, just being able to continue to tell these great stories with long-form journalism.

I've been able to do a lot of features and, uh, cover so many fantastic games, including today.

I mean, it's, it's just been great to be on the sidelines here today.

And, uh, we still have another half of exciting field hockey to go.

Yeah.

You mentioned you can't be anywhere at once.

A lot of teams that you've covered, you've been almost all of, you've been in a lot of places here, not only today, but this week as regional finals and, uh, state championships as well.

How do you decide where, where to go first?

And then if there's multiple games of today, try to get to another game after your first one.

Yeah.

I mean, it's generally, you know, who, who's from my coverage area is the number one thing.

Uh, what, what I think is the most compelling matchup.

And then you're right.

I mean, if I can't be at the start of a game, I might still try to get to the end of one and, and do some interviews after the fact and go back and watch what I missed.

But, you know, today, I knew that it was spread out enough I could do the Cape Girls soccer game at 11, get over here for that great Chevrolet Scoutegan game that we just saw, and then be able to, uh, wrap it up with, uh, with the Freeport, uh, Belfast game that's going on now.

Just wanted to say, obviously, going out on your own is, is becoming a big thing now.

A lot of, that's what a lot of journalists have to do, and it's great.

I speak for all lo- local main broadcasters to say we love your work.

And we appreciate that.

It's, it helps us out a ton with preparation for games.

Uh, final question for you.

Where can the people find your work?

Uh, hoffershighschoolsports.com.

That's H-O-F-F-E-R, uh, S, uh, highschoolsports.com.

And like I say, you know, we've got, we've got content every single day.

Uh, athlete of the week, game of the week, polls, all that fun stuff that people love.

Uh, do a newsletter every Friday, uh, podcast every Thursday.

And, you know, the bread and butter is just the, the, the long form game stories.

And, uh, looking forward to writing these up from today because they've been me - they've been pretty memorable.

All.

Right, well, thank you very much, Hoffer.

Dave Abigail, back up to you.

Thank you very much, Ethan.

And, uh, that's one of the lost pieces of, you know, the dying newspaper industry.

Yeah.

And he's figured out how to, how to grab a niche.

Michael Hoffer is definitely a familiar face for a lot of athletes, a lot of coaches and families.

They see him and they're going, "Oh, wait.

A minute.

Yeah, I know you.".

He does a fabulous job.

So stats at the half, not a lot to choose from until you drop down a little bit, right?

Yeah.

Uh - Those corners really got skewed in this second period.

Well, you know, and I would imagine that Jan Jackson is sitting there with her kids going, "Hey, we outcornered them four to one."

Yeah.

And, and we come up empty.

Right.

And even, even at that, they only managed two shots on the corners.

Yeah.

Yeah.

A lot of momentum.

I mean, still left out there.

But I'll tell you, those saves that Krysek's making, boy, there were a couple real stunners.

Well, both goalies, we knew coming in, uh, that, you know, they're back there for a reason and they're comfortable being there and we can't hear them.

Um, but I know that they're communicating with their defensive people, uh, because they, they are getting the help they need.

And when we see it cleared, you know, the girls have a pretty good idea of what it is they wanna do.

And they've kept.

Uh, Freeport's been able to, to avoid difficulty and they avoid scoring against them because they've been able to clear the puck out of the, out of the circle.

Yeah.

Yeah, no, they've done a really nice job.

And I'll be interested to see how Freeport can kinda strike on their end.

We haven't seen, again, too many offensive opportunities in that second quarter.

So a lot of momentum's on Belfast side, but that can flip.

We've seen it.

All right.

Little bit of speculation here, Abby.

Uh, at the half, when both teams went to their respective huddles, the officials went out to the son in the field and called both coaches.

Out.

Yeah.

Yep.

Yeah.

I. You wonder what that's about?

If I were guessing, I would think there's a conversation about putting the ball where it belongs, because there was a lot of bringing it back, a lot of it going a little too far.

So I wonder if that's kind of what they were, what they're addressing and making sure the coaches can relay back to their team.

Well, I. To the degree that, you know, you want the ball within playing distance.

You want the team that's been fouled not to be harmed by the foul.

Right.

So that, you know, they've already been aggrieved once.

And to slow the game down, allow the defense to catch up and, and reposition gives a second advantage to the offending team.

Right.

And, and that's a challenge for the officials where you have to balance, you know, keeping the flow of the game going and making sure you don't reward somebody for having committed the, the, the foul, the infraction.

Right.

So.

There we go.

We're at the half and we're getting ready for the third quarter of play.

Don't go away.

We'll be right back.

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How are you?

Well, apart from standing next to a dead body, I'm good, thanks.

There might be more to a step and meet the eye.

We need to start investigating.

Well, that.

Sounds fun.

You have been busy.

Justice never slips.

I know your secret.

No way.

Stop this madness.

Am I the killer?

I don't know.

Oh, we're good.

And you look at the folks in the grandstand here on the home side of the field as the Freeport Falcons and the Belfast Lions are tied at zero, getting ready for the third quarter of play in the State Class Championship.

I'm Dave Cheever along with Abigail Hassan, and we're glad to be here.

One of the things I've noticed just in those first two quarters is how frequently Freeport is coming up the left side.

Yeah.

Yeah.

A. Lot of teams are strong to the right and they will force to play to the right.

And either Belfast is denying them.

Right.

Or with Emily Groves and, and with Liza Flower, they're comfortable going to the left.

They're just having trouble getting the ball back, crossing it into the, to the center of the field, and maybe even going to the right side to get some offense working on that side.

Yeah, especially where they're trying to get Liza Flower going.

I mean, their offensive powerhouse, you know, if she's hanging on that left side, if she's comfortable on that left side, that's where they wanna be.

Belfast opens the third quarter of play with.

The ball.

A bit too close to the person in front of her.

It's gotta be into open space and outside of someone's kind of bubble.

Well, I almost would've objected to the placement of that free hit.

Supposed to be where the element of danger occurred.

Oh.

If.

In.

Fact, that.

Was the call.

Right.

But hey, they made it halfway there, so.

Yeah.

All.

Right.

With the ball.

On the run with it.

Lizel and Boudreaux.

Boudreaux.

Off to Flower.

Flower.

She's coming around to the right side.

Little bit of a change.

Yes.

Nice work and near the corner.

Just as we say that left side, she probably hurt us and figured, well, I'll try to show off my right.

Laura Carpenter had the defensive play on, on Flower and.

Just enough to draw the corner call by Crystal St.

Onge.

I was gonna say this is just what?

Corner number three or four?

Over for the free, free three.

I'm hearing it's corner number three.

See what they got.

Marsha Woods said she's excited about this.

Ball on the end line.

Centered into the circle.

Poked free.

Now coming out.

Tough play there is Boudreau.

Couldn't control it.

Freeport again on the attack.

With it.

Abby Cormier comes into the center.

And again with a corner.

Corner.

Not sure what the Freeport coach said at halftime, but seems like they're ready to rock and roll.

Not wasting any time.

Random fact.

How much does he suppose those sticks cost?

Oof.

It used to be within reason.

Yeah.

Let's put it that way.

I. Was gonna say, probably not as much now.

Oh.

Yeah, that one didn't go the way they planned.

Yeah, mishit.

Oof, in a collision.

Gonna get another shot at it.

That's.

Fall.

Cormier.

Go sideline.

Yeah, just too physical.

They've crossed over.

They have flower now on the right side.

That's a change up.

One of the adjustments made by Marsha Wood.

And unless you, you know.

Well, you do know.

They make adjustments and you don't necessarily, you know, say, "All right, when are they gonna do that?"

Obviously, there was some discussion at the halftime of where do we wanna do our attack from?

Right.

Right.

Those little adjustments.

Hoping they pay off, but to make a change on the offensive side, obviously.

Gets it into the middle of the Ritz.

Ritz.

Ugh, right out the end line.

Sends it over the end line.

Belfast has not put the ball deep into Freeport territory yet in its third quarter.

Tarbox.

Yeah, a lot of maroon jerseys up front.

Flowers setting up in the middle.

And, ooh.

Turf could be a little bit slick.

Watch this.

See, she puts the brakes down.

Oh.

The brakes on, yeah.

She might have gotten a stick in the back of the head.

I'm okay.

All.

Right.

I'm okay, coach.

Leave me in.

Hey, it's a state championship game.

If you can make it, you're gonna make it.

Crystal's check on her.

Just making sure.

How many fingers am I holding up?

<laugh> All of them.

<laugh>.

I'm a phys ed teacher.

I don't really do numbers.

Don't ask me that question.

All right.

Play back in and execution on a. I don't know if it ever came in.

Freeport with the ball.

Tarbucks turns it around.

Tries to find.

Doesn't work all that well.

Ooh.

Right up off her stick.

Halle Tarbucks.

I think she's -.

Yeah.

I. Feel that one in the morning.

Yeah.

But again-.

Again.

Stay in it.

Shaking on the aerial.

Maybe not so much.

Yeah.

She's coming to the sideline.

Yeah.

And now going down is, yeah.

I don't know if maybe she loose- loosened.

Her tooth.

Oh, yeah, that is.

I would say that's a lost tooth.

Yeah, you hope she's all right.

She tried.

Time out, but that.

It was not intentional on the part of -.

No, of course not.

The, the Freeport play because it was just deflecting off her own stick.

Into her face.

Yeah, just in a monkey bounce.

Places quieted down here, noticeably as you might expect.

Um, and this happens.

And I, I'm surprised the number of girls who don't wear those, um, those protective gloves.

Yeah.

You know.

Those.

Knuckles are exposed.

They've definitely become a lot more popular, but there's plenty of girls who don't play with them.

Uh, this would be a significant loss if she's gone for any length of time.

You would think that mouth guard saves some, saves some money on her teeth.

She's not exactly bouncing to the sideline.

She's.

Gonna take a drink.

Coming into the game is Ella Chase.

Only a freshman, number 23.

Which is, there aren't a lot of them out here.

I was.

Gonna say, few and far between.

She and CaymanWatch are, are the only.

And 25-yard hit coming in as the ball goes off Belfast over the end line.

Little bit of a novelty.

It's not a corner.

What do you think.

Of that?

Imagine that.

Gotta be thinking about going that five yards.

Oof.

Cormier tried to find Sophia Brown.

Didn't work.

Hi, Mark.

Go ahead.

All.

Now that, that one looked like she was, she was out of the trouble.

Peyton Wadsworth gonna drag at least one Falcon player with her, wherever she goes.

In this instance, that's Megan Ritz.

Trying to get it into space.

A lot of Freeport jerseys in front of her, so Ariel was the right call.

See, I mean, to me, did you really need to bring it back here because that's allowing Freeport to set up.

You had to open field.

Great hustle.

That's a hack.

Allows that to go forward, centering past, nobody there.

On the chase.

And you can hear every, every middle school coach in the state going, "Not up the middle."

<laugh> Don't send it up the middle.

That was great hustle and a really good look, but cannot beat up that high as said before.

But there again, able to get a shot away because the ball was sent by the defense up the middle.

Right.

Yeah.

Freeport ball.

Good attempt by chase, but it goes off her sticking out of bounds.

Wadsworth can't control it.

Porter doing good work in the middle of the field for the Falcons.

They're sitting up again.

Wadsworth on the go.

Sends it up the sideline because they can't get in.

Yeah, no.

Nice to see 13 back on the field.

Which must be all right.

Must have gotten all good, all clear.

Instant Novocaine.

Yeah.

<laugh> Must have some of that down there.

Ball deflected off a foot, kept in.

With it is Josh and.

Von.

First corner for Belfast.

And.

The Lions are gonna get a corner out of this.

7:35 to play.

Third quarter, no score.

And there's nobody on after us, so we can stay and play all night.

I'm sure these girls would like to.

<laugh> You.

Know, and, and we, and we, we, we've talked about that.

For a lot of these kids, this is the last time they're gonna wear their high school uniforms.

Yeah.

You know, this is their last game.

Couple may be going on to college, but -.

Speaking as a former high school athlete, you do wish these games went on forever.

They could.

It's 110 days from the beginning of the season to the end, if you go all the way to the state championship.

Those 110 days are spent with these kids every day.

Every single.

Day.

Maybe a day off on, on the weekend.

Yeah.

And for those 12 seniors, they've been four years of 10 years.

Four.

Years of it.

You know?

You know, what happens next August and September when Nikki Shore is going, "Hey, uh, shouldn't I be putting on the pads?".

Yep.

There's.

A good chance you will be somewhere.

Hope so.

All right, here comes the circle attempt by the Belfast Lions.

Six and a half to go.

Again, a new look on the penalty corner.

Turn it in.

This is trouble.

Oh.

And scores.

There it is.

A little on the backhand as Belfast takes a one-nothing lead.

Take another look at that.

What a nice play.

Jocelyn Velio.

Um, Emily Freel was on that weak side corner.

Yeah, she's waiting.

And she was ready if that hit, if that.

Had come.

Wide.

It was right on the money.

Off a corner.

Freeport.

Now goes on the attack.

Third party.

Belfast returns with the ball.

You can guess what side of the field we're on.

<laugh> Uh, ball goes out of play.

It'll be 16 yard hit for the Lions.

Tarbox.

Oh.

Caroline a wide open space, but not a white jersey to be found.

Wads- Wadsworth was there, but again, she's gonna be watched wherever she goes.

Right.

Freeport with the ball in the lead.

Cute piece of work.

Ivala.

Sister to sister.

Wadsworth sends it ahead.

Can she get some help?

Far side.

Freel.

In the corner.

Trying to keep it down.

Below the 10 yard line.

Ball comes into the, into the circle and kept in, kept in.

And we're gonna get a cer - a, a corner.

Little life in the step here for the Belfast Lions.

Another opportunity.

We'll see what they do with it.

Jan Jackson was saying the other day, yesterday <laugh> that, that one of the things that she's most comfortable with is they don't have somebody that they, they say, "Oh, you know, you're gonna get 20 goals for us."

Just, she's had 13, 14 kids score - Yeah.

For the Lions because all of them are willing to take the shot.

Ooh.

No shot on that one.

That was technically a violation.

The girl was playing.

She was in the field of play beyond the 25.

You're supposed to take the mask off on a corner.

Right.

Right, right, right, right.

You don't see it often.

Well, and now they're, you know, they've.

Spent so much.

Time getting the, getting the masks off the field.

Right.

They've gotten pretty good at tossing them from a short distance.

Those things aren't very heavy.

Yeah, it's like you're playing Frisbee.

Yeah.

Get the right angle and it's a little sore.

Oh, nice arrow.

Now they're a beautiful aerial right into space.

Like to see Freeport using those short passes, that's where they're most comfortable, like they're doing right now.

They can get moving.

Nice hustle light play there by Valor and puts the ball out of bounds.

Yeah, smart play so they can all pack it in on defense and get set up.

And you look at what they've done.

They have one girl inside the 30.

Everybody else is packed in below the 25.

Right.

If it's gonna be a one goal game, you're gonna have to go through a crowd and.

25 Yard hit.

It looked like sh - it looked like Shori just got a piece of that.

Let's see where it goes.

Oh, just.

Just did.

It's a crazy.

It's like a Freeport timeout.

Wanna.

Talk it over?

Donation rate.

Donation rate.

We'd like to remind you that the Maine Field Hockey Championships on Maine Public Television, it really is only possible with the support from you folks at home.

This is a nonprofit service for the state of Maine, which means donations from the viewers, like you, make a big difference.

You can support the broadcast with a donation to mainpublic.org/donate.

And from Abigail and from me and from Ethan and the boys in the truck, thank you.

One nothing our score, 245 to go third quarter.

Yeah, mints and hats are starting to come out as that sun is down.

Oh.

Wimpy, wimpy, wimpy.

You hate to see it.

It's 4:30.

There is no reason the sun should be setting right now.

That's okay.

The, the temperature has been wonderful.

Well, certainly it's booth, that's for sure.

Well.

But.

Down on the field, um, not like what you were experiencing on Thursday.

<laugh>.

I cannot attest to what it is outside, but again, I'm very glad to be in here.

Good view too.

And I guess good company.

That's a good look in the huddle at Liza Flower.

She's a little frustrated.

She, we have not called her name much -.

Yeah.

Beyond the first two minutes of this third quarter.

Again, she has been receiving a good amount of attention from the Belfast Lions.

And you love to see a student section.

Love to see peers coming out, supporting their friends.

25-Yard hit for the Falcons.

Waiting for the whistle.

And Crystal St.

Age.

Obliges.

They go left side.

Into the circle.

Ooh.

Dangerous play here.

And.

Coming.

Out.

I don't think we're keeping stats on aerials, but I would love to know how many have been used tonight.

Yeah.

Nice play by Nikki Shorey in goal.

There's another one, just as I say it.

Coming back in.

Ideally, what, what the goal is, is to hit the ball, not to stick.

And they've been consistent about stick obstruction on the offensive players.

Yep.

Send away.

Right side.

On the run.

Into the dark corner.

And now into the circle.

Kept it in.

Nice defensive play by the Falcons.

They're sending Flower away off the left side.

Teammates gotta run with her.

They're trying real hard.

They are in the circle.

That was great hustle.

Nice work by Flower.

Gets past one.

Can't get past two.

Now that Belfast stick.

A lot of space to work with here.

That ball's gonna come back.

Just toss it back.

Down the right side, Belfast Lions.

Already up by one.

Under a minute to play third quarter.

In the middle.

Wadsworth.

Bell.

Can't control it.

Beautiful cross.

Just no one.

Nobody home.

Nobody there.

It's a great ball though.

Freeport with the ball.

Wrong end of the field.

15 seconds to go, clock running.

And we're gonna turn it back around as it's knocked out a bounce by Freeport.

But that's gonna do it for the third quarter of play.

One goal in this contest.

It belongs to the Lions of Belfast High School.

The State Class B Championship comes down to this next 15 minutes.

We'll have it for you when we come back.

Championship Weekend on Maine Public is made possible by.

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Thank you.

Nothing like the Revolutionary War had been fought.

It's the radical idea.

Ordinary Americans won the war.

I don't think you can be patriotic enough about them.

Everyone's convinced the virtue of the cause is helping them win.

Next time on Antiques Roadshow, are these objects pretty?

I just like the looks of that one.

Or ugly.

I though this one was kinda ugly, but - <laugh>.

You're.

Kidding.

No.

Do you still think it's ugly?

Yes.

I just thought it was the most beautiful thing, and my mother thinks it's ugly.

And are they valuable?

That's an expensive piece of scrap metal.

<laugh>.

Watch Antiques Roadshow.

Pretty or Pretty Ugly.

And hey, let me, let me emphasize, if you have not seen the Antique Roadshow, it's a hoot.

You really ought to check it out.

We're getting ready the fourth quarter of play here at Lewiston High School.

Dave Chiefer, along with Abby Hassan and the crew from Maine Public Television.

A one-nothing game, the Belfast Lions.

Northern Class B Champions and the Freeport Falcons, zero.

Yeah, it felt like there wasn't a lot going on that quarter time.

Oh.

Plenty.

I mean, couple corners, but finally a goal.

And for those of you who might have been concerned when you saw her go down, Hallie Tarbox is on the field for Belfast, has the ball on her stick.

There goes the aerial.

Go get it back.

Go get that.

Nice work.

Through traffic.

Great stick work.

Lizel and Boudreaux.

They have to be careful of her.

And she shows you why.

Ah, good foot race to the ball.

Into the circle with it.

Oh.

Boy.

Coming.

Out.

And they're gonna say a trip by Freeport.

Just enough physical contact to cause the fall.

Let's see.

Yeah, she got her stick right in.

There.

Hate when that happens.

Yeah.

Emily Groves has played a strong game number 11 in Maroon.

Abby Cormier receives a stick obstruction now wants to find somebody and does.

It's gonna go over the sideline.

It's a great hustle.

Nice.

Work.

Belfast step through.

Sophia Larabee, number two.

When you talk about kids who had strong games, I, I think that's a repeat performance for her.

Yeah.

She had a great regional.

Yeah, she and Flow are very, very strong players at Freeport.

They certainly love to lean on them.

Up the left sideline.

Being kept alive and obstruction on Belfast.

Bell come back over 35 yard line.

No panic here on the part of the Freeport Falcons.

There's only one goal game.

And they're not having any difficulty bringing offensive pressure.

Just trying to get something past Nikki Shorey, and that hasn't happened.

Yeah, you don't wanna panic just yet, but you also don't wanna slow up.

Ooh.

Bit of a breakaway.

Looking to center and.

Oh.

It's a great stop.

And it will be a Freeport.

Rehit.

Freeport.

Up the middle of the field, Flower.

Uh, foot race.

Flower.

She has Tarbox watching her and Tar Box is.

It's gonna say Flower Obstructed Tar Box.

She doesn't have quit in her.

She just stays right on that ball.

See if they can get one.

Ah.

There's a corner.

Corner.

Uh, we can't hear them.

But I, I think that we will agree that both coaches have been doing amazing jobs here.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes, yes.

Um, the.

Change up for Belfast with a one goal lead, you know, the attention they're now giving to, to Flower.

She's gonna have to work awfully hard.

So somebody else in Maroon is gonna have to step forward.

Yeah.

Yeah.

It's a lot of pressure, but somebody's gotta step up.

See what they can do here.

Oh, great ball.

Oh, beautiful save.

Nice work by.

Ugh.

Sigh of relief for Belfast.

That was mighty close.

She gets, she gets a pat on the shoulder as well as she should.

Oh, yeah.

Hey, you know, 41 shutouts.

Right on that close.

In, in high.

School as a goalkeeper.

She'd like another one here.

Uh, but just too far.

Freeport ball, coming down to the 10-minute mark, fourth quarter.

One goal game.

Nice work.

Finding some room.

She's.

Got space to run, but Belfast does a really nice job of not letting them turn.

Porter on a nice carry.

Who' she got for help here?

Cormier.

Tries to center.

Back come the lines.

Have a little bit of room.

Ball coming all the way out and now centered.

You have to select fire off a stick.

Picked.

Off.

Belfast.

Lodsworth.

Belfast ball.

Freeport is grudgingly giving up any room in the circle.

Yeah.

I've had a couple of these where they're off to the races and just moving right down field.

Flower went to the ground.

I don't know if she was expecting a call, but it's gonna be a Freeport ball from the sideline.

Freeport's using the gaps pretty well.

Trying to find some kind of room.

All kinds of Belfast bodies.

Right.

Three players defensively bottled up on the play.

Cormier.

Down low again.

Ball deflected by Belfast.

No problem.

And it kept in.

And it's going to be a 16-yard hit.

Yeah, Freeport continues to put pressure on, but haven't seen, haven't seen something pay off.

Schultz takes a look.

Threads the needle.

Here's Flower.

Flower.

Stick work.

And there's your corner.

There it is.

And stick obstruction.

See if they can convert this one.

Shilt started that place.

She found Flower.

Yeah.

And the original infraction, held whistle by Crystal St.

Onge, as Flower still had the ball in her stick and had a chance to, to get a shot away.

Right, and you wanna hold that call.

The second time around, you say, "Nope, sorry."

On the step around.

Ooh, nice piece of defensive work in the circle with it.

Again.

Another one wide.

16 Yard hit again.

Everything but on net or in net for the Freeport Falcons under seven minutes to play fourth quarter.

And congratulations for the earlier games today.

Foxcroft Academy, victorious over Spruce Mountain.

Uh, tremendous game just before this one.

The Chevrolet Stags in a one goal game, three to two over the Skowhegan Riverhawks.

Yeah, that wass A. Down to the end.

Lot of action in that one.

Just like this one.

Freeport on the run.

Trying to find some help.

Fans aren't into this at all.

Oh, gosh, no.

Real quiet over here.

Who's quiet is not the Freeport bench.

Dunham wants to take a look.

These guys are.

Loud.

Send it up the line.

Picked off.

Uh, Jocelyn Value with the ball.

She sends it up the sideline and can they keep it in?

No.

Almost.

Great look for use of space.

Nice attempt by Peyton Wadsworth to keep it in.

Didn't quite work.

Wadsworth's with it now.

Has her pocket picked.

Ah, right off the sideline.

Again, a lot of action on this left sideline.

You hear the sticks banging in there.

Doesn't necessarily mean an obstruction.

Sometimes.

Yeah.

Tarbox is looking more for the stick than the ball on that one, gets the call.

Send up in.

Nice work.

Weaving through traffic.

Boudreau.

Tarbox now with it for Belfast.

Free hit.

Under five minutes to play.

Now things start getting a little bit tense.

Yeah.

Freeport just needs one opportunity in that circle.

Everything changes.

Hello.

Trying to find some help.

Picked off in traffic.

Larabee could not get past the interference and bring the ball back to the 45.

Jocelyn saying, "Hey, stop dubbing around with the ball.

You want a chance to put this game away.".

Box ticking.

And drives it out of bounds.

That's not what she had in mind.

I wouldn't think so.

A little frustrated.

Ooh, good sendaway.

Nice work by Schultz.

Bit too far.

She commits the obstruction.

Carpenter leaves it for valid.

Nice drive up the sideline.

Stays in bounds.

They're.

Gonna keep it in.

Wait, rode that little line all the way up.

Ladsworth.

On the go.

Trying to find something and gonna get a corner action on a third party obstruction.

Yeah, it came flying in.

That's gonna give Belfast another look.

I don't know if it was intentional, but it was the third party obstruction.

Ah.

I would hope at this point.

Lions on the insert.

Formation.

And that ball's going up and over, and it's gonna be on the 25-yard hit.

Almost went for the upgrades of the popost.

Everybody packing in on defense for the Freeport Falcons under two and a half to play.

Again, Wadsworth in the corner gets sent.

That is stone cold defense.

No call.

Ugh.

Yeah.

Gotta be, gotta hurry, but you can't rush.

And we gotta time out here.

Hey, if you don't - Two minutes.

Two seconds to play.

Yeah, you know.

Wanna be quick, but don't be in a hurry.

I -.

Stay under composure.

Got to.

Two minutes of time.

We got some time left.

Well, <laugh> for anybody who was here for the second game today.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, there's plenty of time left.

A lot happened in two minutes earlier.

Scow Hegan had tied the game at two and everybody was thinking, oh boy, here comes overtime.

I don't know if we're gonna do this.

Next thing you know, less than a minute later.

You're listening in.

Yeah, getting a good look at that huddle.

Wonder what coach is saying to kids?

I like that lion.

I like that sign.

That's a good looking sign.

Isaac is ready to go.

Halle Tarbox is going to inbound the ball for the Belfast Lions who lead here one-nothing.

Tim Minahan Field in Lewiston High School.

On the whistle.

And here we go.

Again with the aerial.

Good knockdown.

Yeah.

Wadsworth picked it up.

Oh, great run.

Down the sideline, can they do it?

Bit too far.

Nice work bike.

The Belfast Lions knocked out of bounds.

Carpenter sends it to Wadsworth.

She He keeps it in, puts it back in.

She gets past the defender going to the end line.

Does she have it?

Flips it, looking to center.

Now sent up the middle of the field.

Flower can't gather it in.

Again, they try to go to Flower.

They're looking at her as her, the Savior here as -.

He's got a final push going.

Under a minute.

Flower.

Got the opportunity.

Sends it wide.

Uh, great stop.

And bodies crashing to the ground.

Again, Freeport ball.

Yeah, ended up flat on the ground.

Trying to get to the circle.

If they get to the circle, they can get to a corner.

If they can get to the corner, it won't matter what, what time is left.

Under 30 seconds, state championship on the line.

Elfast with a ball, but stolen right back.

Trying.

To get to the circle.

Too many people, good clear out.

And the time keeps ticking, so we gotta hustle.

It's not gonna work.

You're a state champion for 2025 in Class B. The Lions of Belfast High School.

A one goal game, Abigail.

Hard fought both sides.

Lot of skill.

Tremendous season for the Freeport Falcons.

And they come up just a tad short today.

Lot of pressure.

Yeah, and for 24 people on the field, 24 young women on the field, you know, it's the last time they're playing in high school, last time they're putting on that jersey.

So big feelings on both sides.

16 Times the Belfast Lions have been in the state championship game.

This most recent one must feel pretty good.

It certainly must.

Big hugs all around.

<laugh> Alan Holmes goes by.

He was the author of many of those as coach of the Belfast Lions.

Nice to see him up here.

He's been here all day.

Oh, yeah.

In fact, I think he stayed here last night just to be sure.

<laugh> He's going down to visit with his daughter and the victorious Belfast Lions.

Congratulations to them.

And congratulations too, the Freeport Falcons.

Yeah.

Fantastic game.

It was a lot of fun.

And a, and a great season.

Yeah.

Yeah, one goal game.

All it takes.

I think Nikki Shorey showed why she's, <laugh> she's been so highly regarded all four years.

Yeah.

Her 15th shutout of the season.

Her 42nd shutout in her high school career.

Yeah, she was fabulous tonight.

And never saw her get rattled.

As you said, I mean, she laid out.

She was making the stops.

And, you know, sometimes, particularly in goalkeepers, when, you know, when they get nervous, the form goes.

Yep.

And they wind up kicking the ball up -.

Right.

Flailing around.

And she was just in full command.

Yeah.That's.

Not standing game.

And for that matter, you know, you, you look down the other end of the field, Maddie Kryszek.

Team handshakes and then the presentation of the awards.

And there are tears all around down on that field.

Of course.

Relief, happiness, sorrow.

That is the beauty of the Maine State Tournament.

Super high stakes feel such, such elation on one side and just absolute heartbreak on the other.

<Laugh> You know, they want the kids to go through a handshake line and say, "Nah, nevermind.

Come on.

Let's just get going."

Nope, they're gonna do it.

Oh, it looks like they're gonna.

Show up sportsmanship.

There are a couple of seniors out there for Freeport.

Didn't play a minute this year.

Knee injuries before the season even began and the, and Marsha Wood was saying what great teammates they've been.

Uh, supporting their teammates, supporting their classmates.

And so they, you know, they've been as much a part of this team as if they were out there with a stick in their hands.

That's a huge testament to their character.

You know, if you can, if you can be a great teammate on the sideline, even if you got nothing to do with it.

And, and you know, when, when you get into this and, and you have a sport you love, you wanna stay as close to it for as long as you can.

Certainly do.

Those, those kids.

This time I'd like to call - All.

Right, let's go to the awards.

Freeport.

Coach Marsha Wood, Assistants Karen Curry, Deidre Boudreaux, and Lisa Daniels.

Forward for the presentation of the awards to the runners up.

We'll be recognizing the players by grade.

Beginning with sophomores, Piper LaRochelle.

Delilah McCarthy.

Briella Boudreaux.

Peyton Schultz.

Lydia Costa.

Juniors.

Megan Ritz.

Lydia Porter.

Kelly Borgoin.

Ella Lamont.

Seniors.

Maddie Kryzek.

Leah Moore.

Liza Lynn Boudreaux.

Jillian Lucci.

Sophia Brown.

Liza Flower.

Emily Groves.

Cam Lizzot.

Reed Procha.

Gwen Dunham.

Abby Cormier.

Caroline Fair Service.

And Liliana LaRochelle.

Would the Freeport captains please come forward?

On behalf of the Maine Principles Association and Hammond Lumber Company, we are pleased to present this plaque emblematic of the State Class B field hockey runner up to the Falcons of Freeport High School.

Congratulations.

Now at this time, I would call Belfast Coach Jan Jackson and Assistants Brittany Tarbox and Sarah Bryant forward for the presentation of the Championship Awards.

Once again, we'll be recognizing the players by grade, beginning with Frenchman June Noyes.

Charlie Miles.

Ella Chase.

Cameron Wadsworth.

Sophomores, Jordan White Manager.

Hope Reynolds.

Opal Woodbury.

And Seniors, Emily Freel.

Sophia Larabee.

Kate Lemon.

Nikki Schuri.

Jocelyn Valio.

Greta Graf.

Allison Freel.

Laura Carpenter.

Halle Tarbox.

Catience Parento.

Peyton Wadsworth.

And Ora Lee Woodbury.

Would the captains from Belfast please come forward?

To the captains of Belfast Area High School, on behalf of the Maine Principles Association and Hammond Lumber Company, we are pleased to present this trophy emblematic of the State Class B champions in field hockey to the Lions of Belfast Area High School.

Congratulations.

Running over to the far sideline to the fans who were not allowed on the field, but boy, they wish they were.

The Belfast Lions State Champions in Class B field hockey.

Got a couple of final words for you.

We'll have them for you when we return.

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Thank you.

Hugs all around here at Lewiston High School as the State Class B Championship has been decided the Lions of Belfast High School are gonna have a nice bus ride home.

Uh, just a reminder, if you happen to miss one of the three games today on Maine Public, and you wanna watch one again, or watch it for the first time, maybe, Maine Public is rebroadcasting all of the field hockey state final games tomorrow, Sunday, starting at 8:00 AM with the Class C matchup.

That Spruce Mountain, uh, game.

Uh, <laugh> and it was Dover Foxcroft Academy ponies prevailing in that one.

And then the Class A game, what a Corker that one was.

A 3-2 win by the Chevr Stags over the Skywhegan Indians.

And this one.

We just finished it.

A one-nothing game, Abigail.

And, uh, I, you know, they earned it.

They earned it.

It was a very hard fought game.

They certainly did.

Look at those smiles.

Nothing, nothing like that feeling.

We got a full game statute.

There we go.

The shots on goal, the wide shots, the defensive saves, the goalie saves.

The goalie saves both goalies.

You know, you can say, well, it, like, six saves here, four saves there.

But their presence in, in the goal cage, uh, was immense for both teams.

Absolutely stellar performances from both goalies tonight.

But boy, the corners.

Yeah.

Corners.

It.

Was four to one at the half.

Yeah.

And.

It's two to one at the, at the end.

But 12 to six, the disparity in corners.

And they scored on a corner.

I was gonna say, in shots on corner, you know, Belfast having three and Freeport not getting one off, that's, that's super difficult to overcome, you know?

Uh.

And credit to the Freeport Falcons, because, hey, you know, when you're back there and you're defending, and I was impressed with both teams, how they committed to play defense -.

Yeah.

Knowing how strong their opponent was.

Yeah.

There was no quit in those Freeport Falcons.

They played to that very last whistle.

Credit to them.

Now, Hammond's not gonna get those posters back.

No <laugh>.

Those kids are gonna take 'em home.

<Laugh> I would think those will be hanging in bedrooms for quite some time.

Ethan Snow is standing by.

He's gonna see if he can get Jim Jackson, and she's headed over to speak with him.

The Victoria's coach of the Belfast Lions as, uh, good night for the kids on the coast.

Some interviews going on.

Here we go, Ethan.

All right, thanks, guys.

Thank you very much for the way.

Coach Jan Jackson joins me now, coach.

What a season for you.

You broke through for that state title last year, and you followed up with an unbeaten season and another champ - state championship here tonight.

15 shutouts from your senior goaltender, Nikki Shorey.

Talk about her real quick.

What has she meant to this program?

She is just an amazing goalie.

I've had her since she was a freshman.

She's played since she was little.

Um, she is, we call her badass, because that's what she is.

<laugh> She's awesome.

And in her career now, she's had 42 career shutouts.

So, yeah, she's, she's the hell of a girl.

What is this, uh, what does another state championship mean for this program?

It's, it, up until last year, it had been a little bit, but now you've broke through for back-to-back.

Is this the start of a new dynasty in Class B?

Well.

Um, the, they were juniors last year, the majority of them, so it was a pretty much a whole team of seniors.

It's ever one freshman out there for the starting lineup.

And they just knew that, um, preseason that their goal was to get back here and you try to win every game that we could.

Um, and we knew that Belfast field hockey hadn't done that in a very long time back to back.

So that was another goal of ours too.

All right.

Well, Coach, congratulations.

Enjoy the ride back to Belfast.

We will.

We'll be celebrating.

Thank you.

Back to you guys upstairs.

Thank you very much, Ethan.

And, uh, I know that, you know, the, the parents follow these kids from when they first grab a stick and they're going to all the places across northern New England.

You know, some of them are going down to Florida, some are going to Virginia, Washington, to get these kids time on a field and, and to play this game that they love.

And can't help but think of the Wadsworth family tonight.

Uh, sisters, a senior and a freshman playing on the field and winning a state championship.

And it's the only time that's gonna happen for them.

Super special.

It's just a, a great evening for them.

Great evening for the Belfast Lions.

Thank you for being with us tonight on Maine Public.

Uh, we will have the replays of the game tomorrow beginning at 8:00 on Maine Public.

Don't miss that.

They're a lot of fun to review.

For Abigail Hassan, I'm Dave Chiever for the crew from Maine Public.

Again, thank you for joining us and have a pleasant evening, everybody.