Championship Weekend on Maine Public is made possible by.

Hammond Lumber Company, serving contractors, homeowners, and do-it-yourselfers with building supplies and custom services from 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.

We welcome you to Dawn Rue Field on the campus of Lewiston High School, as Maine Public Television brings you championship Saturday for field hockey 2025.

Hello everybody.

I'm Rob Munsling, Mo McNally.

Joining me along on color.

Ethan Snow is our reporter down on the field.

Well, Mo McNally, the weather guards have blessed us with a beautiful day.

The rain has moved out.

We're gonna be in the mid - 50s, close to 60 degrees for Championship Saturday.

A great day, a great day for the kids.

This is all about the kids.

Oh, there's no question, Rob.

This is, this is unbelievable.

These kids have been working since the, uh, second week of August.

It was probably 90 and humid in August when they started.

They end up today.

It's just a great day, great facility.

And we're looking at, uh, six great teams here today.

We've got some veteran coaches with some first year coaches.

We've got some teams that have scored a ton, and teams that have, uh, held up in heaven, uh, let teams score.

So it's, it's just gonna be a great day here.

We're so glad to be with you on Maine Public Television.

And, uh, certainly this day is gonna be a special day as we get set to take a look at some of the players.

You can see how anxious they are.

Coach, you and I both coach in championship games.

The butterflies are real.

<laugh>.

Absolutely.

If you take a look at Spruce Mountain, Alex Besse, their coach.

This is a first year.

Uh, first year coaching and first year obviously in a, uh, state championship game.

They come in number three.

I think we're gonna get the.

Yeah, we'll pause down here for the national anthem.

So, uh, Coach, uh, let's take a look at the, uh, keys to the game here for both these squads here as they come in on championship.

Not a lot of time to prepare.

Only one day.

There are the keys for Foxcraft Academy, Mo.

Yeah.

If we take a look at Foxcroft and talking to Coach, uh, Devin Walker, we're talking about, uh, she needs to control the tempo of the game.

And what we mean by that is she needs to use the entire field.

Her midfield, uh, takes a free hits quickly, and they control where the ball goes.

They wanna put meter pressure on, uh, Spruce Mountain's goalie and, uh, Kylie Ma- Markhart, who's a junior goalkeeper, who's got an 89% safe percentage.

Coming off shuttle.

Exactly, exactly.

They're coming off a, a big win against Winthrop.

Then they wanna win the 1V1 games all over the field, and that takes, uh, skill, uh, takes skill with the stick and a ball, and then you have to figure out where the ball's going after that.

If you take a look for Spruce Mountain, they wanna.

I talked to coach and they wanna maintain the composure.

They haven't been here for a while.

They're the upstart team coming in.

So they wanna maintain their composure.

They wanna do what brought them here.

They wanna play tight defense in a scoring circle.

They don't wanna give up a whole lot of penalty corners or a whole lot of shots.

And they wanna create some offensive opportunities for themselves, either shots or, uh, corners on the offensive end.

Foscoft Academy, the visitors, they'll be in the visiting white Spruce in the dark colored shirts.

Foxcoft Academy.

They come in with a perfect 17 and 0 record on the season.

Spruce, 13, three, and one.

And, you know, you might say that, uh, Spruce is playing with little house money here.

Uh, the, uh, last time they have never won a state, uh, field hockey championship.

The ponies last won in 2019, and they seem to win every six years.

So if you go 2019 plus six, it's 2025.

So we shall see we're underway.

And there's that, uh, steel right out of the gate.

There's Voxcoft will lose possession.

It's a quick hit.

And that's exactly what they're looking for.

They wanna get the ball wide.

They wanna take those quick, quick free hits to make, make sure the defense is back on the heels on those particular things.

Get it out to the sidelines and use the sidelines.

Grady had a chick lost it.

Spruce on the attack.

Now, as we said in the beginning too, Rob, we said at the beginning that, that, uh, Spruce Mountain's gonna come in with a little, some butterflies in his stomach.

They have to.

It's the first time here.

It's a first year coach.

So these first five or 10 minutes are gonna be crucial for Spruce Mountain.

Well.

They are on the attack here in the offensive zone.

They'll put it in play.

Elinda Lake, you see a close up of Linda gonna backtrack a little bit, try to drive her through, trying to pick up the loose ball.

Foxcart will dispossess.

And they will get on the attack.

And they like to spread the field and get up and get going.

And you can see quickly that they are on the attack.

Dunton lost it.

And we gotta keep for Foxcoff.

We gotta keep an eye on Addie Rayfield, who's a freshman Rob.

She's a top scorer on the team.

She's got 28 goals this season.

Armandi comes down the near side doing some good stick work, protecting the ball to the outside, center dead, but nobody there.

And with Spruce on the attack, we wanna keep an eye on Ava Davis, who's a senior forward.

Coach says she's very dangerous near the net.

Sees the field well, passes well.

She's a senior who scored 14 goals and had six assist.

She's number five on your screen.

This is Hall.

Gonna aerial.

Foscop does play on turf.

Spruce not.

So an advantage if you think on field conditions, they've got that beautiful, uh, Robinson field house up on the campus of Fox Roft Academy.

And boys, you know, Rob, games on turf make a big difference, but majority of the teams find themselves avail - making themselves available to turf team, uh, fields if they don't have their own.

So everybody plays on it sometime during the season.

Johnson dispossessed.

Only's looking to counter out of the zone.

They can't.

But now they'll get the free hit here.

Hey, Mark.

One of the things you'll note is how those free hits sometimes can cover a lot of ground on the turf.

The turf here is, uh, a newer turf.

It's really in great shape.

Oh.

The ball moves entirely different, as you know, Rob, on turf than it does on, uh, it does on grass.

It's, uh, fast.

It's a faster game.

It's a more controlled game because you know where the ball is and how the ball's gonna be carried.

Oscar, that midfield will try to throw it through.

They won't get it through.

They'll repossess here.

End play.

Better of a territorial play early on by Spruce Mountain.

We talked about the keys to the game, Coach McNally.

And so far, I w - I think, uh, Foxcoft, uh, has not been able to get established like they like to out of the gate, and you gotta credit Spruce Mountain's defense so far.

Abso - They get counted well in midfield.

Absolutely.

Uh, you know, at the beginning of these games too, you see a lot of play right between the 25s, one end of the other, and two people get established.

And, um, these teams, as I understand, haven't played each other, so you really don't know too much about each other either, so.

Well.

You're in a, in a situation where you haven't played a team that you're just worried about yourself.

Taking care of what you do well and not really able to get a lot of scouting.

That's first kick save, and that was a good one.

Nice shot from the left side.

Lily Bisson.

The goalkeeper for Foxcroft Academy, Kylie Markhart, who you just saw with the save, are the keepers.

Fed in.

And Kylie is only.

She's led up less than one, one goal per game.

She's got an 89% safe percentage.

So a goal against average is less than one.

So we're talking about some experience in the goal cage with that junior.

And Lily Bisson counts with a 95% safe percentage.

So we do top goalies.

Stick, but not dangerous.

So Farshaf able to continue to play.

Spruce did a reverse stick.

Nicely done.

Cleared out, uh, Armandi.

She's gonna cross field, but didn't connect, but picked up on the loose ball.

By the Phoenix.

All loose at midfield, and that midfield's so important.

Adele Ps.

With it for Spruce.

Peas.

Looking to feed her through.

She does.

Back line will take it out.

Side clear.

But it's right to Quinn Johnson who plays it back end deep.

I think a couple things we see with teams like this that are in state championship games, Rob, that are different than average play during the years.

This game's much quicker already.

It's a lot quicker that the, uh, three hits are all true.

We don't see many dangerous hits.

We see both these teams using the, uh, outsides, which frees up the inside eventually.

So they're using all the space they've got on the field too.

So these, when you hit this state championship level, you're gonna see a different type of game.

So Avis.

Davis, uh, lose her balance a little bit.

She's all set through ball.

And a kick out say, first one of the game.

Listen to flex it to the outside and the ponies are on the trot.

Spruce head here.

Seeing the respective sidelines.

And Johnson.

With the hit, but illegal and.

I think the difference is gonna be inside the circle too, Rob.

It's not the, just the one shot.

Teams wanna get off that one shot as quick as they can, but they certainly wanna get a multiple shot.

They wanna get the rebound from the goalie afterwards is too.

So if you can get two or three shots every time you win the circle, obviously your chances for scoring are much better.

Of course the keepers are trying to kick out to the side to prevent that, so it's a game of cat and ice.

Exactly.

Exactly.

Like.

With it.

Reverse stick.

Nicely done.

Amandi.

Still got it.

End of the circles.

And that'd be our first corner.

These will be interesting.

See how s- see the setups on these penalty corners for both teams.

Ball went off the foot of the defender inside.

Subsequently, we got this first corner, so this will be interesting to see how they set up.

Del Piz will do the insertion.

The one of the senior leaders for Coach Bessie.

She'll get set to insert.

Amandi and.

That one went by the boards quickly, coach.

Just a little case of nerves, I'm sure.

The ball came out true, but it went right on her foot, so, um, she lost possession.

But again, that probably nerves.

I bet out of 10 times she does that, only hits her foot once.

<Laugh>.

Here's that quick replay.

And ponies.

What a threat.

Reversed.

Knocked in front, and that's gonna be a corner.

First of the game for the ponies.

We'll have a full stat report.

Sharon Glant doing our stats in the booth next to us.

See the little conference here.

Coach, what do they talk about in there?

They call the play.

I mean, they've got several plays on these corners.

But as you and I have said before, the first shot, you wanna get it off.

First clean ball that comes out, you wanna get the shot off.

So disregard the play.

But they've got plays on all these corners.

Comes out clean.

See the.

Pass coming across.

This is Hutchinson.

Chief shoots.

And so each team with a corner.

Each team with a defensive stop off the corner, though the ponies was self-inflicted.

We'll get a hit here from the 25.

Just outside now into the circle.

Right here.

Comes in front.

Turn.

Ooh.

Nice shot.

Save there.

Now corner.

And that'll set up a corner.

Now, defensively, the last thing you want is multiple corners up here, because invariably, somebody scores if you've got multiple corners.

So defense wants to be real careful here.

Clear the ball out to the sides as quick as they can legally.

And, uh, get rid of these corners because the pressure, obviously, they're outnumbered offense to defense.

Great field to put it in.

On the insertion.

Comes in clean.

Swung back over.

Ooh, nice shot.

Shot just hipped wide off the corner.

So you can see that Foxcraft spends a lot of time on their corner play.

They've had a couple of good ones, and they'll continue to press the issue here.

Another circle.

Now cleared out and down the side to an open winger.

Great clear.

McGarry stepped up and won the battle for the fifty fifty ball for the ponies.

They'll play on.

Nice pass ahead.

Ooh, nice cut.

We're in the circle.

Oh, beautiful cut on the ball.

Beautiful cut on the ball to set up this penalty corner.

Take a look at it right here, Coach.

Yeah, now you can see a cut right under the ball there and pick that up quickly.

And the ball came in across from the left side.

There's a great, great little cut on the ball.

See the view from behind?

Uh, reverse camera.

<laugh> Eddie Rayfield.

Insert's clean.

Spruce jumped on the D, but couldn't control the ball.

Now they're in, and.

I think.

Spruce saw that.

I think they saw that coming, that pass to the, back to the left side.

So what's the saying, Coach?

If you don't score off a corner, do what?

Absolutely, get another one.

<laugh> Get another one.

You.

As an old coach, we used to give him that same spiel.

If you can't get your shot off, get me a corner.

Uh, no messing around.

After that, the shot or the corner.

Out for two and three.

And repeat.

<Laugh>.

She's in, it's clean.

Reversed.

And just skids past the stick.

That was gonna be a good opportunity.

Yeah.

She was open at top.

Maybe turn it.

We don't seem to have a 14 on the roster.

Maybe a shirt change.

Win, win, go to the middle.

So Spruce had some good advantage early on, but now it's been the ponies pressing the attack and they dispossess.

They're up over midfield.

Cleared to the middle.

Chased down there by Dutton.

Dutton gets it back.

Just outside.

Stop from coming into the circle.

Good defense there by Spruce.

Cleared to the side.

Kaknovich got it down and connected with her teammate, but, uh, dispossessed and headed the other way with Ella Hutchinson.

Hutchingson will throw it back.

These teams look very sim- similar.

Both of them have great short passing games.

Very quick with sticking the ball.

They seem to see the field well.

There's no errant passes.

This is a good game to start today, Rob.

As we said, Foxcroft coming in if you're just joining us.

17 and 0 on the season.

They beat MCI to get here.

Rather handedly.

Five to one, I think, was the final score in that regional final.

Spruce a little tougher goal.

They dethroned Winthrop, the reigning champion, in a one-nothing game.

And I think it's fair to say Foxcroft has been the, uh, team of the north for the last few years.

They, they're the standard bearer up in the north part of the state and have done a great job.

Uh, Coach Jeanie Filpo was at Foxcroft for a number of years and, uh, I don't know if she started the program.

She certainly built it into a powerhouse.

Well, as we said, they're on a s - every six year win.

They won in 2019, and then that looked like Lewis in high school against Edward Little and the battle of the bridge there.

<laugh> And little football play right there.

<laugh> Watch it right here.

Whoa.

<laugh> Yeah, we'll be into Maine Public Television's basketball coverage here later, later in February, but that looked like taking a charge at Augusta Civic Center.

She got, uh, she got a card on that, Rob.

She's in there, for lack of better term, the naughty chair for two minutes.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Nothing.

Uh, nothing she did deliberate.

It was just a, uh, it was a push on a play, and gotta keep your head up and see what's happening.

Pony set to restart the play.

Hutchinson.

Dispossessed.

Gonna reverse the ball.

You heard the oohs and the ahs from the crowd on that one.

Boy is that ball really came up on Kelly Allen.

Wow, we watch right here.

Kelly, wrong place, wrong time.

Whoa.

I think it hit her stick, luckily.

Threw ball taken to the side by the ponies.

Looking to Claire.

They get a good clear up, tipped ahead, and that one's gonna go out.

It'll be Spruce Ball.

Kelly Allen.

Couldn't get by the defense of Jenna Hotford.

Hotford gets her back here at Midfield Hartford.

Looking to make a run.

Beat her defender.

We'll move the ball back a little bit.

Coach Walker had mentioned to me too prior to the game that they, she expects her team to use their speed and they have been this game often.

Reverse here trying to just kick out save a beauty.

Shot again, no.

Spruce on the clear out, desperate times.

Desperate measures, but they clear it.

Spruce Mountain's marking up very well inside the circle.

They're playing tight defense, so that's why we're only seeing one shot at a time.

And that was done that had a good look in it.

The sophomore is a goal scorer at the goal.

And we have finished a fast period one.

You see the score?

No score.

They'll reset it, and we're back for the second quarter after this.

Championship weekend on Maine Public is made possible by.

Hammond Lumber Company, serving contractors, homeowners, and do-it-yourselfers with building supplies and custom services from 34 locations across Maine and New Hampshire.

And by viewers like you.

Thank you.

Maine Public is unlike anything else you see, hear, or experience throughout your day.

Programs that inspire you, entertain you, and ones that you can trust.

It's a uniquely curated selection made with you in mind, because you make all of this possible.

Your donation today powers the programs of tomorrow.

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.

Back here to Lewiston High School.

Let's take a look at the first quarter stats, Mo.

Yeah, thanks, Sharon.

We've got, uh, we've taken a look here.

Foxcar - Foxcroft Academy had three shots on gold and Spruce had one.

Um, they had one wide.

Foxcroft had one wide shot on a corner.

We took the goalie saves.

The, uh, Foxcroft goalie had one.

The Spruce Mountain goalie had three.

There were four corners for, uh, Foxcroft Academy, one for, um, for Spruce.

And, uh, one wide shot for Foxcart Academy on a, on a goalie.

But the, on the, uh, corner.

Game's been pretty tight all the way around, and I, I, uh, I envision it will stay that way.

We've had some, uh, some real good play, Rob, so far.

If you're just joining us, Fox Garft Academy from the North.

17 and 0, they're in the white shirts.

Spoose in the dark green shirts.

Here, the Phoenix.

We've got a couple of Ps.

Phoenix and Ponies getting after it here.

Foxcart.

It hit it in the zone and that's gonna set up another corner.

They start to dominate in the corners.

You're seeing the replay right here, how close that is.

We see the defense putting on face masks, Rob.

We didn't see that when I was coaching, but now all these kids are defensively protected with the, uh, face mask that they've got on.

Eddie Rayfield, the freshman.

Don't let her class fool you.

She's one of the premier players in here.

She'll get the return.

She looks the center.

She does.

All's loose.

Goalie's out.

And no goal, but another corner.

And we'll see Foxcroft all game long foot pressure.

We've got at least six men in the circle right now putting pressure on the goalie.

So if the goalie goes down, she's gotta be down quick to get back up, uh, for that second shot.

Eddie Rayfield on the insertion.

Comes into the near side, back to Rayfield.

She's looking to center.

She does.

They're gonna turn goalies out.

Nice save.

Look at what to save in the circle again, and finally, Foxcroft gets a clear, but quickly repossessed.

They weave back in the circle shot at the side of the net, fighting Hartford.

There is Hartford, but she couldn't get the shot on goal.

And Eileen Markhart, you can see her being active in her cage.

She's not afraid to come out and challenge those shooters.

And she's got, she's got pretty quick feet.

She's got two good backs in front of her, uh, for the clears out to the side.

They're playing real tight defense right now on a seasoned team from Foxcroft.

Setup, reverse.

Chart seals wide, and that'll be only a chance for the Phoenix to regroup here and see if they can't get out of their own end.

Second quarter, 12:21, moving Clark.

Actually, it was a hit for the ponies, but it was out at the 25, so now it's Foos with a chance.

They're rolling right to left on your computer screen, your TV screen.

Your mobile device, wherever you catch us on main public television.

We're glad to be in all places.

He had the sticks clash at the 50 yard line.

Then some great ambient audio down there.

<laugh> When Johnson couldn't clear it through.

Hutchingson.

We'll get the hit.

Just about midfield.

Hutchingson.

They looked at reverse field.

Oscar tries to thread it through and they do.

Successfully.

Nice sell pass.

The shot in.

Ooh, just.

Ride.

They had a two-on-one run.

Perfect opportunity.

Nice little pass across the penalty stroke line.

Goalie came out, cut the angle down.

Here we see her.

Yeah.

It's a great little pass on a two-on-one.

Yeah, it.

Was a great - As you.

See the goalie had the angle cut down.

Great play defensively, great play offensively.

Yeah.

That was Rayfield with a beautiful pass.

Gifted player, just a freshman for the ponies.

I know, you don't often have a freshman step up and play like this kid seems to be playing this year.

Oh, look at she's doing the insertions off the corner.

No bigger responsibility than that.

Absolutely.

Now Adele Ps for the Phoenix, but she couldn't play it all past midfield.

Ponies one aerial.

They do.

Balls down played clearly.

That was a good job back there by the spruce on the defense.

At Bertson, one of the good defenders back there.

Brotherly, Phoenix, and she's been called upon quite a bit.

In front of her keeper, Kylie Markart.

Kylie actually credited her with some great play in the one to nothing victory that they had to get here over Winthrop.

That's a - Well, that's tip, that's knocked down.

Beautiful save by Markhart.

It tells you a little bit about the focus of the goalie.

About the time that tip comes up in the air, you're not ready for that.

You're looking at the ground.

So it tells you what kind of a focus this Markhart's got, uh, on the ball.

That was a great play.

Well, look at the tip right there and she just knocked it down, a combination of blocker and glove.

Beautiful play.

Well, Markhart, you talked about her save percentage been high all season long, and it's been called upon here as the ponies have galloped out here in the second quarter to really tilt the field.

Spruce put some chances early, but it's been ponies, but no score on the board.

Hartford.

Look in the center.

Hartford.

Couldn't get it across.

At Bertson, again, we talked about Grace and how good a defender she is.

You saw her right there and made the defensive play.

Wouldn't let that ball out, but sets up a corner here.

Gonna see it.

Why don't right here get her actually off her foot.

Nothing she could do there, but a corner's better than a centering pass in that case, and we'll see how the corner goes.

Right field in.

We'll set it back.

Laid back.

Ball comes through.

Tip.

Ben around goalie out.

Holy cow, two great saves.

And she's equal to the task.

Highly Marco.

Keeping the door closed so far for the Phoenix.

There's a beauty, right?

One, two.

Exactly.

A kick save and a beauty there on the left pad.

Nothing frustrates an offense like, uh, Fox Cross when you get a goalie coming out and getting a double save like that off.

Beautiful.

I mean, you can't say anything wrong with the, uh, the offensive setup.

Oh, absolutely.

Autify.

Back in again comes Hartford.

End of the circle.

Hartford control.

That one got a stick on it.

Oh, just went wide.

Holy.

That was a tough shot.

Went to the opposite corner.

Jenna Hartford, right where she wanted to be on that far post, almost got the tip in.

And when that ball comes that quick from one side to the other, it's tough for the goalie move.

Watch it right here, but there's gonna be a great view how close she is to it right here.

When you see the goalie on the right post having to move over to the left, that's a tough, tough area to cover.

Jenna Hartford threw the stick down, hoping it would deflect in the open corner, but Jeff Smith It's for the ponies.

Supposed to play it down.

It's a good idea for Spruce to get it out of there any way they can and go down field with it and give their defense a little bit of a break.

Quentin Johnson will put it in play.

Johnson looking to get in the circle just outside the circle now inside.

There for Ava Davis and Bruce will get a corner.

He'll huddle up, get the play call.

So you see him checking the wristband, that signal comes in from the sidelines.

Right.

This is - And it goes to the inserter.

She's got a, she's got a, uh, armband on and tells her which play to call.

Certainly looks that way.

Used to use smoke signals in your Coach McNally back when you started in 79.

Had to say that, didn't.

He?

We.

Just had to say that.

Coach Moe McNally, Gardner High School, two times state champion.

McNally All Star game named after Coach McNally.

Must have done something right in your career, coach.

You don't name all star games after everybody.

Uh, that was, it was quite an honor f - quite an honor for me and, uh, obviously Rob, you know, as well as I do.

I love, love coaching and love field hockey.

So this is, this is great.

He's on the insertion.

Comes back out high.

Try to get the long shot when Johnson, but didn't get through and.

Ponies will see if they can clear the zone, reassert themselves offensively.

They have certainly had the better of the chances.

Kylie Markhart has been the answer and goal so far.

And her defense get off good players.

Become the ponies.

On the prowl.

Start.

Amandi.

Other Phoenix, Amandi, gonna reverse.

Comes down near side.

Some tricky.

Everyone good player down through.

And unfortunately bounce stopping.

Ponies will put it back in play.

You know, tip of the hat to the officials today too, Rod.

Um, we're talking about Lori Beth Rankin and, and Maureen Curran Swanson.

They're letting the kids play.

Yes.

Um, we're not seeing a, a ton of whistles, only when needed, but, uh, this is a fast game in part because the officials are allowing them to play.

So a good officiating crew for this game.

Well, we'll see the cream of the crop here all day, not only the players, coaches, and officials.

Absolutely.

Announcers?

Eh.

<laugh> Midland.

<laugh>.

Yeah.

Coach and I have come a long way since we were doing games out on the hill at Somerville field at Gardner under canopy with no power, no internet.

And rain.

And rain.

<laugh> But we've been doing games together, Coach, almost 10 years I think or so.

Has it.

Really been that long?

Well, it's, it's certainly been a lot of fun.

We've seen a ton of games and a ton of talent.

And obviously today we're gonna see a lot more talent and we're seeing it as this game prog- progresses.

Well, I thank you for your patience with a novice like me, and you've taught me a lot about field hockey.

It's a great game and I'm from a field hockey family.

My sister - That's right.

Niece are both field hockey players.

There's a good player down the near side, but it's gonna find the sideline out of mountains.

I'll tell you, the talent in the state of Manrov is something to behold too.

I've, I've been fortunate since I finished coaching to go around and see a lot of games that I didn't normally have a chance to see.

A lot of talent.

Boy, we've got some great players in the state of Maine, which is a tribute to the, uh, high school programs, the youth programs, and the travel team programs.

We're seeing a lot of the powerhouse programs here.

The ponies, as we mentioned.

Phoenix's a little bit of an upstart under first year Coach Al especially.

Wanna congratulate Alex.

Coach here, but she's just been named the head basketball coach at Coney High School.

I followed Alex's career at Central Maine Community College.

Member of a championship national team there.

Then she went up to Umaine Farmington where she played both field hockey and basketball for the Beavers.

Comes from a great coaching athletic family.

And her Phoenix are looking to get on the attack, but Calvo with a nice defensive play for the ponies and they lift the counter.

Pristine conditions here.

No win.

Cloudy conditions.

Which actually athletes prefer.

No sun in anybody's eyes.

Well, as we had alluded to too, these kids start in August and the humidity and the heat and they end up now.

It's in the 60s and so they're playing through all kinds of conditions.

Um, and it's, doesn't seem to phase in one iota.

Obviously it's not gonna fade in today because they wanna be here, so.

We say August coach, you know as well as I, these, as soon as school's out in June, they are together, they are playing.

That's.

Right.

I heard, uh, Paula Doughty talking about that fact.

She says, "We've been at it five months."

And, uh, we'll talk more about that game as it gets ready to get played.

But, uh, Paula makes a great point.

These kids are committed, uh, for about five or six months of the year, and a lot of them play off season.

Certainly do.

And the, the other fact that I noticed as I was talking to coaches and getting information about kids is a lot of these kids are, are multi, uh, sport athletes as well.

And not only multi-sport, they're very good in the sports they play.

Um, a lot of them are track stars, a lot of them play softball, a lot of them play basketball.

So they, when you get a multi-sport athlete too, Kinnes- Kinnes logically, it's, it's just a, a better, um, a better, better for you, better for the kid.

So a lot of these kids are very talented in a lot of things.

The through ball, but the spruce intercept, but regained here on the take is Hatford.

Hartford's in.

Hartford leaves it.

The shot.

Hotford.

Where did she get that goal?

Like the first goal of the game is Jenna Hatford.

Hatford gets the initial rush right here.

Mo.

Yeah, she l - they continued to pick up the ball.

Nice little hit.

Ball comes over to the corner and then Boalie couldn't get back.

There's no way for her to get back that quickly.

She got the first one, followed the first pass, but could not get back to that corner that quickly.

Well, they're doing the pony.

That's a dance move on the sidelines.

<laugh> Might be dating myself with that.

Yeah.

Can you see it from behind?

Replay right here.

Just enough time.

We saw Hatford was the one that just missed the tip in - Exactly.

About five minutes ago.

That's right.

121 left here.

First goal of the game for the ponies.

And Fox Cross maintained consistent pressure up there since halfway through the second quarter there.

They've been up in that circle quite a bit.

So the defense has been playing hard all, all, uh, game long and, uh, just couldn't get that one.

This game's probably three-nothing, uh, if not for Kylie Markhart and her -.

Absolutely.

Multi-saves.

She's kept the Phoenix in this, and of course they're still in it.

Phoenix trying to maneuver his Ps.

Ps lost at dispossessed.

Just off the line, and it'll be ponies ball.

Third party.

Gell it.

Hutchinson's set to put it in play.

Love hearing the sideline chatter and - <laugh> This is fantastic.

Great ambient audio by Nick Gotfried and the crew.

Hotford again, getting loose and looking to get a pass from Dunton.

Can't do it.

These last.

13 - Oh, 10 seconds.

Exactly.

Last 10 seconds.

Fruce just wants to get the ball out to the side.

Um, not too worried about getting to the other end.

Just keep it out away from the circle.

And Pony's more or less a defensive offensive possession there just to keep this at one nothing.

So we're playing a very first, fast first half of action.

One nothing you see the school?

We'll take a break.

You're watching field hockey on Maine Public Sports.

Championship Weekend on Maine Public is made possible by.

Hammond Lumber Company, with 34 locations across Maine and New Hampshire.

Serving contractors, homeowners, and do-it-yourselfers since 1953.

Coastal Auto Parts, selling NAPA Auto Parts since 1981.

Owned and operated by a Maine family and proud to support student athletes.

A Maine-based bank with 12 branches statewide.

Skowhegan Savings is dedicated to helping you with your personal and business banking needs.

Branch locations and more information at scowheagan.com.

And by viewers like you.

Thank you.

I. Love Maine Public because it keeps me company throughout my very long workday.

From 6:30 in the morning till 3:00 in the afternoon, I'm listening intently, and I love everything you guys do, and I've learned so much.

Maine Calling is my favorite show.

Uh, on Saturday mornings, I love watching Lucia and, uh, all of the cooking shows.

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.

There's a story unfolding on the West Coast of Costa Rica.

A tale of two creatures, each on a comeback.

One is a sea turtle.

The other, a magnificent cat.

The return of an endangered forest will bring them together.

Predator, prey.

How will their fates play out when they finally meet on Jaguar Beach?

It's time to go to work.

It's the defining event of our history.

This is the story of modern war and how he's changing us.

We've opened the secrets of the universe.

We can do remarkable things together.

We have never wasted our time together.

We not afraid of greatness.

Mission accomplished.

Well, let's go down to the field to Ethan Snow.

He's got the MPA's Mike Burnham to talk about all things MPA.

Ethan?

Thank you very much, Rob.

Standing by with the executive director of the MPA, Mike Burnham.

Mike, first of all, thank you for taking the time to talk with me here this afternoon.

Very, very busy day across the state.

Field hockey here, soccer championships all around the state, of course.

What kind of goes in from your perspective about just the preparation for all these games at all these venues?

Well, the, the planning starts, you know, well, well in advance, really back in August when all of the committees come in and start doing the, uh, the planning and whatnot.

Uh, this is just a culmination of all of that work, and this is such a, a great day, all of these championships across the state.

Now, this year's a little bit different.

Soccer used to get, um, AMD used to be together.

C&B used to be together, but this year, everybody gets their own venue.

Why was, why the change?

Well, the, the, uh, soccer committee looked at it and, you know, we had nice wea - we have nice weather here today.

Uh, but usually that 10 o'clock in the morning game and the evening game that starts at 6:00 can be really chilly.

And they though, you know what?

Let's play the games in the, uh, warmest part of the day.

So they split those, those championships up.

I can certainly appreciate that.

One final question for you, Mike.

Obviously, field hockey, very big event.

Great crowd on here, on hand today for this first game.

Last year, Edward Little got it.

This is the second time in the last three years he's been here at Lewiston.

What's so great about this venue, this staff that gets the host here, and why we get to see it here multiple times the past several years?

Well, uh, there are a couple of things that commit to this.

First of all, you know, Jason Fuller and the entire crew here in Lewiston do such a tremendous job hosting.

They host a lot of our championships.

Uh, same thing at, at Edward Little.

They're hosting state soccer today.

Uh, Todd Sampson and, and his crew there.

Uh, but this is also kind of a central location, you know, that we're bringing the north and south together.

Uh, and, you know, c - bringing them to the central part of the state.

And for the championships in field hockey anyways, you know, we've tried to keep it somewhat central.

All right.

Well, thank you very much, Mike Brenham.

We'll enjoy the rest of this one.

Rob, Coach Moan, back to you.

Thank you, Ethan.

Let's take a look at that, uh, stat sheet.

Sharon Galant doing our stats here, and, uh, we'll take it through with, uh, Mo McNally.

Well, if you take a look at the stats, Rob, uh, it changed a little bit.

Second, uh, second quarter.

Foxtrof came on with, uh, 10 shots on goal and Spruce Mountain finished with only one.

But a lot of those 10 shots came in, multiple shots off corners in the second quarter.

Um, Foxcroft took what?

Four wide shots on either side of the goal area.

Uh, no defensive saves, which means no full backs or backs were making saves on the goal line.

Um, as we said, Kaylee Marcott came up big for Spruce Mountain, ended up with nine saves in the first half.

And, um, Lilly Bisson only had to ha- have one.

Uh, corner play again dominated by Fox Roth.

They had eight corners, uh, to Spruce Mountain.

And then, uh, Sharts on, uh, came off the corners.

Foxcroft had five.

So, uh, towards, I think, towards the middle of that second quarter, we started to see Foxcroft step it up a little bit.

And they put, uh, Spruce Mountain back on their heels.

And when the defense plays that long back there, the shot that we saw come in was actually a beautiful shot from, uh, left to right.

The goalie moved extremely well, but the ball just kind of squeezed in by that post.

So, uh, stats are Fox Cross way right now.

Well, what do you have to do if you're Alex Bessie?

You see her talking to her team down to our left as both teams have stayed on the field and, uh, she's probably just saying, "Hey, listen, we're only down one."

<laugh>.

Exactly.

Right?

You're getting a good look at the, uh, the kids from, uh, Spruce right there.

They're down one.

They kinda need to see Alex right there.

She's to the left, uh, on one knee talking to her droops.

And, you know, I'm, I'm sure Alex is sharing the thing with, "Hey, we're only down one, you know, and, uh, we're playing with house money."

They came in as, uh, you know, a number three seed.

That's.

Right.

You know, all the other teams were seen.

I think we're seeing a, a, in the games today, one seeds, uh, held, held a chalk.

Uh, and the pony certainly there as they came in, uh, undefeated on the season, a perfect 17 and 0 record under Coach Devin Walker.

And, uh, they're favorite in this game.

No question about it.

They lead at the half, but it's a one-goal game.

Oh, you're absolutely right.

I mean, there's a lot of upside for Spruce Mountain today, um, in terms of this game.

And I think if you talk to anybody in the stands, I think they'd say the same thing.

They thought Fox- Foxcroft would dominate.

And I don't think that's the case.

I think Spruce Mountain came out.

We didn't see a lot of jitters.

They played extremely well.

I think they played with, uh, with what's best for them.

They looked to their speed, they looked at their defense.

They rely on their goalkeeper.

So there's big stuff coming here, and I think, uh, Spruce Mountain's played very well.

Well, stay with us here for the second half.

We're about three minutes away.

We'll take a break and we come back.

Second half action.

Here from Lewison High School.

You're watching field hockey on Maine Public Television.

Championship Weekend on Maine Public is made possible by.

Hammond Lumber Company, with 34 locations across Maine and New Hampshire.

Serving contractors, homeowners, and do-it-yourselfers since 1953.

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.

When you watch Maine Public Passport, you're doing more than streaming.

You're playing an active role in making the programs that you love possible.

That's because Maine Public is a nonprofit resource, which means that every dollar you invest is used to make great programs.

Programs that we then bring right back to you.

It's a unique partnership that creates a unique viewing experience.

So thank you for doing your part.

To learn more about what you make possible, visit mainpublic.org/impact.

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, my god.

Mo McNally.

Robinson Mo McDally back here at Lewiston High School.

Well, this is game one.

The alphabet doesn't go ABC today.

It goes CAB.

And we'll have the A game coming up next, and that should be a pair of powerhouses getting after it here as two of the teams that are the premier programs in the state range, Gowheegan and Chevers will battle here a bit.

We're looking for Battle Royale and that second game, and we'll have that coming up here on Maine public television as well as we have all three games.

Our first time doing this, see Coach Alex Besse cheering her troops on.

Alex, a terrific student athlete, uh, at her time in high school.

And then later at Central Maine Community College, national champion in basketball in 2017.

Took her talents up to Umaine Farmington, where she starred in both field hockey as well as, uh, she, I think she played softball, uh, as well.

And basketball, three sport athlete at the collegiate level.

Well, if you're Foxcroft, you see in their huddle right now, you know, we've been in enough of these situations, you and I as coaches, you tell your troops, hey, listen, go out there, play like it's nothing, nothing.

You know, let's get a restart.

Let's get the first goal of the second half.

And that, that, that's a, this is a huge goal coming up right here, whoever gets it.

If there is.

One.You're absolutely right, Rob.

And I, I, I would assume that Foxcroft coming out here, coach told them to maintain the pressure up front.

Uh, continue to put the pressure on the goalie.

Keep your passes crisp and short.

Get to the circle as quickly as you can, but you're absolutely right.

This next goal is very, very important.

Uh, not only for the score of the game, but for, uh, for the kids thinking about what's happening next.

So back underway here, start the second half.

Dutton.

Through ball tracked down quickly by Yanelli and she's gonna take it wide safely and she'll get the hit here.

Up to midfield, tipped through by Davis, but she couldn't pick it out.

Calvo won the defense.

Interesting note.

I think it's the Cal - Yeah.

Calvo is a, uh, boarding student from Spain.

Coach told me on the phone the other day she's played back for them all season, but she's, uh, grew up in Spain and was a boarding student at Fox Group.

Oh, fantastic.

We hope her family's watching in Spain as we bring her this around the state, around the country, and around the world.

<laugh> Here on main public television.

And Ellie got it in quickly to set up an opportunity.

She gets her back and Ellie reversed it through.

End of the circle on a reverse, but Becknovich gets called on the infraction.

So good pressure here by the Phoenix to start the second half as they've had the territorial advantage.

And they'll get a hit here from both.

Well, I think, as you said, Rob, the coach probably told them right at halftime, we're, we're okay.

Yeah.

You know, we're only one goal down on a top team that scored 99.

They scored, uh, Foxcroft scored 99 goals this season, which is huge.

So if they are only giving up one, they're still in this ball game.

And anything can happen in the last 30 minutes.

Yeah, so they, you know, they wanna continue to mark up well.

They've really done a pretty good job of that in the defensive zone, although the shot advantage way advantage of the ponies, but just the one goal as you say.

And it was a beauty.

Jenna Hartford.

And they're moving the ball well.

They're not, uh, crowding the field.

They're moving, using the outside, using the inside, creating some space for themselves.

And their passes still have intended receivers, so they're playing very well.

Very strategic field hockey on both sides of the ball.

Riley Wright.

There's a good stick to get the deflection by Jayden Fragon, number 11.

She's been active today.

Fragon's got it right on cue.

She loses it, dispossessed.

Good opportunity knocked through by Ps, but quickly cleared out by the ponies.

Reverse.

We're under cloudy skies with beautiful conditions here.

55 degrees.

No wind to speak up.

Good connection down here to Rayfield.

Grayfield gets it ahead.

Looking for the return pass.

Good step up defense, but it'll turn over back to the ponies here and they'll get the hit here.

But nice little give and go here they tried.

They didn't get back and infractioned by Bertson.

She's one of the premier defenders.

I think I've been even talking to coach.

I think Addie Rayfield's got a sister that played on a national championship team this year at St.

A's.

Um - In fact.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So there's a, you know, a, certainly a family strain of field hockey players.

Yeah, some gym.

Got some field hockey jeans.

<laugh> Calvo.

There's our first corner of the half.

So they'll get together and call it out.

Rayfield will get the ball as she has all day.

Eddie Rayfield.

The freshman on the insertion.

They've used a variety of techniques on that.

As Rayfield.

These insertions on turf are much more manageable.

Gets her back to Rayfield.

She's looking across.

Can she?

No.

Defense stepped in.

Rayfield's still fighting for her.

Perfect example of don't have a shot, get yourself a corner.

She, Rayfield was stuck down in the corner there and, uh, didn't have a shot on.

So she worked the ball.

Got herself a second corner.

The flyer getting ready to go coming out to try to defense this.

They'll cross it.

Oh.

Headed a goal.

What a shot.

Well, you're gonna see, get the other corner.

And this thing comes in like a laser through a screen.

No chance at all.

But Kylie Marquardt on that one.

We'll have to wait for the ball downstairs.

Yeah, I think Marcotte came out, but was blinded.

I didn't quite see the ball came in.

And you're right, Rob, that was a great shot.

She's wide open.

It's number 14.

Yeah, we don't have 14 on our roster either, do we?

Do you have 14?

We'll get it downstairs.

Dade True, maybe?

Yeah.

The watch true.

Great shot.

Under control.

Nice pass.

She was wide open.

As you said, the goalie had had no shot.

She was blinded a little bit for the shot initially, but, um, even if she wasn't blinded - Yeah.

That was a great shot.

True was true on that laser.

I do have True, but I taped over my roster coach and I covered up number 14.

<laugh>.

Bad.

Bad announcer technique.

<laugh> True with the goal of beauty.

And now the game complexion's gonna change if you're the Phoenix coach.

Yeah, you're right.

Uh, it, it's, it's tough now.

When you see them back into their defensive end, I mean, what they've gotta do is get back outside, get back into the midfield, um, collect themselves a little bit.

That's tough when you get that second one.

But, uh, Spruce Mountain has played well.

If they can get the ball up, get it inside the circle.

It's not, uh, it's not impossible.

Just makes it a little tougher.

But you gotta maintain your composure.

And I think that's one of the things that, uh, coach had said look into this game.

She wanted to make sure her kids maintained composure in spite of what happened, so.

So Jenna Hartford in the second period.

Jay Drew here to start the second half on a two-nothing lead.

For the ponies.

Spruce had some good pressure early here in the third, couldn't convert.

Ponies changed the field, got themselves multiple corners.

And Jay Drew with the laser.

And I love the sound in the back.

Ooh, that's gotta sting here if you have Adele Ps.

Those sticks are wood.

<laugh> Like we used to get in the old days.

You'll see it come right off.

That.

That.

Ball's hard too.

Oh, that bitter.

Yeah, bitter in there.

Right in the hand.

Yeah, those are nerve balls, folks.

<laugh> They might look good, but they're hard.

There were several times I got hit with those in practice.

I wasn't, uh, quite agile or nimble.

<laugh> So I never did get out of the way, but my shin showed it.

<laugh>.

Take one for the team.

There's a counter attack by Davis.

Davis trying to spin and get the play in the circle can.

We'll play on quickly.

Nobody seemed aware of that at all, but Linda Lake.

Perfect.

She took that quickly.

Boy.

She- She got very quickly, got herself into the circle, and before the, uh, defense had time set up, she got herself another corner.

So it's a good opportunity for them.

Yeah, one of those plays that might not be on the books, you know, as, uh, as a paper stat, but a real good heady play by Linda Lake to take it quickly.

The sophomore saw the situation.

Now they've set up a corner.

They've been few and infrequent for the Phoenix, so they really would like to get one here.

They'll come out now into the circle.

Some good defense coming off to the side.

Emma Magari.

Tony, on the long player, chases on.

Gonna be gathered by Riley Wright.

Wright takes it wide.

A good through ball.

Those fifty fifty balls become so important, Mo McNally, as to who's gonna control play.

Exactly.

Exactly.

And that's what we, we talk a lot about, uh, winning the 1V1s all over the field.

And that's exactly what you're talking about in terms of fifty fifty ball.

Um, kids with better than average stick skills will win those, and that starts your offense.

Or on the other end, it starts your offense from the defensive position.

So it's, one-on-one balls are very, very important.

That's a beautiful breakout by the ponies they possess.

And look for the turn they do.

That in turn, but really couldn't get a lot on it.

But there was some beautiful short range passing breakout by the ponies as they came down.

That was the recipient of the final pass, but couldn't get it through.

The Phoenix, going ahead by Ps, but that back line defense is sturdy.

That was Pace and Hall with the defense.

Linda Lake looking for the spot.

She gets the okay from the officials, and she's in play.

Lake, she moves quickly again, threads her through nicely to Davis, and Davis will get a corner.

And as you can see, Spruce Mountain's not, uh, backing down.

They're creating some offensive opportunity.

Anytime you can get in the circle and get yourself a corner, you're using your creative abilities to, to get yourself an offensive opportunity.

So they're, uh.

But, um, vice versa, the ponies aren't letting up the gas either.

They're putting the pressure on, so.

Well.

It's an end-to-end game.

It absolutely is.

It comes peas with the insertion.

Make sure her team's ready.

She's one of the senior leaders for Coach Alex Besse.

They get it out.

It's clean.

They get a shot that's reflected up and dangerous before the final hit as Calvo was trying to protect herself Over here, you're gonna see it.

It's dead right there.

Right.

So that final right there, Laurie.

Beth Rankins making the call.

Before we had radio.

We got quite a contention of Gardner High School <laugh> alums here today, including former teacher at Gardner High School.

Mike Burnham of the NPA.

Absolutely.

That's right.

That's right.

'Cause Coach McNally and I, and Nick Godfrey in the truck.

We got a lot of tiger stuff.

I didn't have any.

I didn't wear orange and black today.

<laugh> Nice move.

Beautiful move there.

I think that's just by the wide side, that was a great opportunity for the Phoenix.

Great movement of the ball.

Inside 25.

I believe that was Lake again who's had a good second half.

Yeah, and Lake throws one right to the near post and almost a tip in for Armandi, but she wasn't able to get the stick down or get close enough to that far post.

Well, there is an infraction there.

Clear cut.

Accidental, but they don't measure intent, do they?

No, they don't.

<laugh> No, they don't.

And you know, it's a good sportsmanship.

She tried to hold the up up.

Jason Hall went down with the hand, uh, off of the hand.

And.

She's gonna sit for a couple minutes because of the trip, so they'll play shorthanded.

So Linda Lake, the sophomore.

See if she wants to go up and over.

Nope, she's gonna take the pass.

Look for the return pass, but they turned to get it in and.

Ella Hutchinson made the good defensive play for the ponies.

Jay True will put it in play.

We're gone.

Ella Ponies.

As we said, she's active.

See her number 11 right in your screen there.

The sideline cam, the aerial.

Will it stay in?

Number eight, Twin Johnson back for the three pen.

Johnson back after her time spend a nice throwball and oh, almost another tip and opportunity for Jenna Hartford just by the boards.

It's.

A good example of seeing Marcotte come on and cover that angle as well.

As you see her on this crossball ball coming into the circle, Markot follows it.

She's right exactly where she should be.

Takes away the shot from, uh, from the ponies.

Yeah, I think even if, uh, the tip had been ma - been made by Hartford, she would've got that left foot on it and kicked it aside.

Uh, Gary, gonna send it out of bounds.

Quinn Johnson now here.

First Fruce Mountain.

Pony's up two nothing as we wind down.

Third quarter, about 215 left.

You see the clock?

Adrian.

Saw the player down.

The player that tripped for the, uh, ponies constitutes dangerous plays.

Are they gonna call that off.

All the time?

Whitefield lost her balance.

Right.

Lucy Bisson.

Lucy Bisson in the game number eight for the ponies.

Like how they're announcing the substitutes, that helps us.

Rooms tried to feed her through, couldn't, dispossessed by Dutton.

Spun out of there by Lake.

Lake.

Dispossessed and Bisson just in.

Two Bissons on the team.

Lilly is the goalkeeper.

This is Lucy the Senior.

And now Ella Hutchinson.

Dry from well wide.

Wide Bisson.

And we're under a minute.

Oftentimes high scoring offenses as the ponies are now with a hundred goals.

Their best defense is that potent offense.

Exactly.

There's no question.

Uh, just in terms of possession, where you holding the ball and they've hd the ball in their offensive end.

You've got the ball out in your offensive end and they're not gonna score on the other end.

So we talk about possession time and it becomes a big issue as well.

And Ellie on the defense and infraction and we'll turn over here to the ponies.

Uh, Gary.

Big hit.

That ball went all the way to Auburn.

<laugh> Over the bridge.

This is gonna run out.

Quarter number threes.

Well, we'll play three quarters.

The ponies in full gallup, they control the scoreboard.

Two nothing.

We're back.

Fourth quarter coming up next.

Championship weekend on Maine Public is made possible by.

Hammond Lumber Company, with 34 locations across Maine and New Hampshire.

Serving contractors, homeowners, and do-it-yourselfers since 1953.

And by viewers like you.

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.

Here are these second half and here it is, Jade Drew.

A laser on the right side.

As we said, a great pass across.

She was wide open.

Golly came out on the correct angle, but was blinded I think a little bit, but what a shot.

Even if she wasn't blinded, I think that shot would've gone in.

Well, there's a lot of cage to cover and that ball crosses, and that's why coaches work so hard on those crossing plays.

Exactly.

Exactly.

You always wanna go to the weak side if you can and hope somebody's there on that post, but she didn't need it there.

We take a look at the stats for this quarter, Rob.

It's interesting.

Uh, Foxcroft Ponies had one shot on one.

I mean, one goal on one shot.

That was the only shot taken.

Um, both teams had two penalty corners.

And as we said, Jay True scored on that, uh, goal to make it two to nothing.

So not a lot of stats in that third period.

Well, if you have the lead, you're not concerned with stats.

And if you possess and keep the pressure on, that's your best defense.

Pony's again.

Nice through ball there.

Looking for the car.

Get the cross just missed.

Perfect playing.

We had perfect execution on the op - on the weak side.

Weak side player comes up.

She wants to be somewhere near that penalty stroke line, and the ball's gonna come right straight across there, but just a little lower than the, uh, shot taker.

Yeah, it was Rayfield.

And she's got it here.

That's Rayfield.

Nice reverse.

Reverse chop and.

<Laugh> And it's gonna be all the way out where she took the hit.

Laurie Beth Rankin taking charge.

<laugh>.

Well, she's risen up through the ranks in the last few years and is, is one of the most respected, uh, umpires in the state.

So congratulations to Lori Beth.

She was a former goalie of mine.

Yes.

Good kid.

Real good student.

Real good field hockey family.

Durant Laurie, one of the premier officials in the state?

Absolutely.

And down here today as well, sitting at the scorer's table.

Field hockey, very tight-knitted community.

Coach McNally, I would say.

Absolutely.

Absolutely.

I mean, it's, uh, it's not one of the more glamorous sports in the state from outside people looking in, but, uh, it's a, it's a great sport for, for girls.

It's, uh.

Ooh, nice shot.

What a shot.

Jay Drew, I don't think it was tipped a beautiful setup on the insertion.

Watch this beautiful play.

The cross are true.

You gonna get a great look at it right there.

Rayfield was on the post.

If it didn't go in, she'd have tipped it in.

Perfect placement on the shot too, Rob.

We always tell you, go opposite side.

If you can go opposite side of the goalie, there's gonna be an opening there.

And she found that.

And you're right, it was a laser.

Yeah, she's moving to her right just a little bit here.

Watch her set herself up.

And boy, she gets more power behind it.

Got a screen in front.

Denton was in front as well, and you saw Rayfield at the corner.

Just perfect offensive placement there.

Because even if the bomb from true doesn't get through, you've got multiple opportunities.

Either a juicy rebound or a kipping at the post.

That's.

Right.

That's right.

But it couldn't have been placed any, any more perfect in that offset.

There's no way that Mark Hart could have gotten that.

The potent ponies.

<laugh> Uh, up three nothing.

As an announcer, you know, you get your alliteration book out, coach, you try to do that as much you can.

I leave that to you, Rob.

That's, uh, it's right up your alley.

I. Think the ponies come down.

We, we've heard a lot about them.

I had a chance to see them this season.

It's one of the only teams I hadn't seen.

And they, uh, they come as expected.

They are tough.

They cover all areas of this field.

They're multidimensional, good defense, good offense, good special teams.

So it's, it's, uh, all that they always talked up to be.

And there's no north-south defining strength.

You don't always say, "Hey, the north is always better.

The south is always better."

Not in field hockey.

It, it really is a year to year thing.

There's strong programs throughout the state of Maine.

You know, up until about maybe 15 years ago, Rob, there was.

The, all the, for lack of a better term, all the good field hockey was in the north.

But it's now, uh, certainly more divided.

We see teams like Chevers.

So we see teams like Spruce Mountain and we see teams Biddeford.

Biddeford's another good one.

Uh, Freeport's great.

Yeah.

So there's some Thornton Academy.

There's some great teams down south that, uh, have established themselves.

So there's no division anymore.

You're absolutely right.

Chance for the Phoenix here on the corner.

Insertion by Peace.

But the Ponies defend well.

And out they come.

Full traffic, right field.

Look like a running back just walking for herself coming through there.

1056 left in the game.

We're in the fourth.

We play four 12-minute quarters.

We're just picking up field hockey for the first time, and we welcome you to the first ever main public television coverage of state championship field hockey.

Right down here in our backyard, down here in Lewiston.

And what a great opportunity for people that can't make the games.

And we might have grandparents, aunts, uncles in another state, another area, so it's just a great opportunity for them to see games they wouldn't ordinarily see.

Yanelli with a good rush.

Yanelli, looking across, she gets pretty well defended there.

Some good defense by McGarry.

Phoenix will lose possession.

Oni's turned it over quickly.

Taknovich had to come right on her stick.

Now the aerial up and out.

Is there a preference on when you'd like to use those aerials?

Is it a defensive maneuver like we just saw to go up and over and attacking, uh, for better, lack of a better term, a hockey term four checker?

Yes.

Obviously it's not as quick getting down field, so you look - Wow.

Wow.

And that stayed out.

I don't know how.

I think there was a defensive save there from, uh -.

Yeah, we haven't had it.

In the lake, I think.

See it right here.

And behind.

Is.

Yeah, that's a defensive - Oh no.

Who was it?

20?

Defensive save here.

Right.

By grooms as she came over.

That's our first defensive save of the game.

We had none coming.

Out of first half action, none in the third.

But that saved a goal.

No question about it.

There's a whole category for that, right?

Yes there are.

It, it caught me when Sharon was, Sharon Galina's doing our stats for all three games.

Put that up there.

I said, "Oh, defensive save.".

You don't see them very often, but they're huge, obviously, as you can see from this last play.

Have a timeout.

Time out three.

So we're gonna get a timeout?

Well, don't go anywhere.

We've got more field hockey action coming up here today.

And we're pleased to be able to bring this to you.

But you know what?

If you missed any of the games, you can watch the championship games.

Again, main public is rebroadcasting all the field hockey state final games tomorrow starting at 8:00.

It'll be this one at 8:00.

The C match are followed at 10 o'clock by the A game.

And then the Class B game at noon.

So if, if you're one of the players and you wanna come back and watch your team play or you're a fan that missed the game, we'll get you covered tomorrow on Super Sunday.

Seeing Coach Alex Bessie.

Good timeout for her.

Settle your team down.

Your three goals down, but you don't wanna get games chippy and you wanna give them just a little bit of breather to collect themselves.

So I think it's a good time out.

Little, uh, social media broadcasting going on down on the sidelines.

Was Jade True doing little dance?

I know that's for, uh, what do they call that?

Snapface or something like that?

A cacto or one of those things, right?

I- I'm not sure what they all are, but the kids know.

I am not sure either.

The kids know.

Yes, they do.

<laugh>.

Yeah, I actually play little social media dumb, but, you know, I gotta do all that stuff myself with, uh, with what I do.

I know very little.

<Laugh>.

I can, uh, use my iPhone.

That's about it.

And I'm not sure I use that as much as I could.

All ponies three-nothing would tick down coming out of the timeout.

This is a tough part of the game for Spruce Mountain, too.

You're down three.

You haven't had a lot of, uh, shots on goal.

So it's a tough part of the game to stay strong and stay within yourselves.

Ponies again.

And Prond just off the stick of Rayfield.

Rayfield's had some good opportunities.

That one just slid wide.

Rooms, who had the defensive save, feeds it out.

Good step up defense again as she has all day.

McGarry, number 21.

For the ponies.

She will put it back in play.

Chili will drop it over the defenders.

Just got a text message from Mary Beth Picoin, the Winslow coach.

It tells us it is Snapchat and TikTok.

<laugh> Thanks, Mary Beth.

Appreciate it.

Yeah.

Well, those youngins.

<laugh> Throw ball.

There we see what they're playing for.

The main Principles Association, Field Hockey, Class C Championship 2025.

Right on schedule for the ponies every six years.

You can bank on it.

That, that's amazing.

I never noticed that.

Yeah.

Well, I wanna thank the, uh, fine sports.

I forget which, uh, newspaper article I read that out of, but we wanna thank the, the press around the state for covering, uh, all the sports here at the championship, uh, weekend here.

Lots of coverage to do.

And I read that in, uh, on either the, uh, Sun Journal, I think it was, uh, or maybe the, uh.

I, no, I think it was, uh, out of the, uh, Central Maine newspapers.

So we thank them for their coverage of what the kids are doing at the high school level, and, uh, we'd like to give them credit where it's due, and they certainly came up with that.

Not me.

<laugh> The shot just wide, but whistle before that, it'll be a corner for the Phoenix.

Good little shot.

Perfect, uh, positioning by the forwards.

The Spruce Mountain Forward, so it's a good little shot and a good little opportunity for them.

She taken one more step around.

She might have had that shot on.

Well, the corner's gonna be yellow three.

Well, McNally, if you know what that is.

I'm not sure which one yellow.

Three is.

<laugh> We will see.

LPs knows what it is, and she's gonna put it in play.

<laugh> B's in play.

Comes back just outside the circle now in.

Defeat on the cross and very good defense there.

Rayfield, down the near side.

Rayfield, on a run.

Got players ahead, threads it through, gets a return pass it out.

Rayfield, give and go.

Reverse.

So that was a beautiful breakout that time by the Phoenix, the ponies.

Saw them in full trot down the sideline.

Here it is.

The gifted freshman, Addie Rayfield.

She's gonna be a name.

Oh, she sure is.

We'll watch that for the next three years.

She's all that, uh, Coach said she was gonna be.

So 2031 would be the next pony year after six, but I sure they'd like to have one before that.

I'm sure they wouldn't wanna wait six years.

And, you know, they've got a good nucleus coming back as we take a look at, uh, at the ponies.

They've got a, uh, you know, just, uh, a couple of seniors on this team.

It's kinda scary.

Three seniors listed.

The left re- rest kind of underclassmen.

Good run here.

Ooh.

Ooh.

Three right there.

There it is.

Through the five hole.

Adele Ps with the goal for the Phoenix.

Well, she's been pressing the issue.

She's been an impressive offensive force all game.

That one came threaded through.

She's got the stick down, put it home, and an excited young lady, the senior.

And what will be her final game most likely?

Perfect little entry passing of the circle.

Just a great little shot.

Oh, no, she may go on to play at the collegiate level.

We hope so.

Plenty of great schools that offer field hockey here.

And I know Paul McNally does a lot of work with us.

So P's with the goal makes it three to one.

So it's good that Phoenix on the board.

And they're pressing the issue here.

If they could get another prick on, it'd be exciting, but a break out here.

Rayfield trying to get through.

Jan.

Good defense.

Very good defense.

Stop.

Done.

Phoenix look and see if they can get back on the attack.

Near side, McGarry's gonna run it down, but she just possessed Lake with it.

Strolling away.

But through ball true connects.

Killing in the game.

The Rayfield.

Rayfield looking at turn.

She does.

Gets to turn the balls.

Oh.

There's another one.

Jess dribbles over the goal line.

Let's take a look at it from in behind.

Rayfield brings the ball in from the right side.

And Jess couldn't make the defensive save as.

Quinn Johnson came back.

Kendall.

Helen, with the goal, just dribbles off her stick.

You see, she's prone down.

She got a good view of it dribbling over the line, and she was down on the field.

She's got it here again.

Yeah, goalie went down for that first save, and Killan had her stick right in front of the pads.

It just got the tip.

One of those drills that we do in practice all the time is tips drills in front of the goalkeeper.

And you don't often have, uh, a lot of shots during games, but that was a perfect ex- execution of one.

Connected up here again with Addie Rayfield.

Rayfield dispossessed there by Riley Wright.

Oni's just outside the circle.

Put it in play.

Bobby too quickly.

We told you three times today that ball has to stop.

The official said, "I told you three times smoking like a true teacher," which she is.

<laugh> Ball has to come to a stop.

Of course, kids are always pushing the envelope, as they have since the stone age.

<laugh>.

2025.You're absolutely right.

It, it, uh, has to come to.

It has to be under control before you start.

Um, and it's a, it's, uh, been a bone of contention with all kinds of, uh, coaches because you wanna take it as quick as you can.

And then the question is, is it under control?

Is it stopped?

Well, it's the official's final say, so it doesn't matter what you say.

The officials will win that, but win that every time.

I used to think I could win a few of those, but I don't think I won any.

<laugh> Let's see Rayfield's just running out the clock now.

She doesn't care whether she gets anywhere near the circle.

A little tricky dribbling down there in the corner and every pick on the clock's important.

She's going to the naughty chair for pushing.

<laugh> That's frustrating though, when you get a kid with that kind of a stick control, to hold the ball down in the corner there to run time off.

It's, there's not much you can do as a defensive ballplayer, so it's, uh, it's a frustrating part of, part of the game for Spruce Mountain.

So as a coach, you designate somebody to be that person or you give them the green light in the situation to read it correctly and, and do that?

I mean, not every kid's capable of doing that.

Yeah, you're absolutely right.

And look at the time, how much time you got, and how much you're ahead, and then obviously tell these kids to keep the ball outside.

We want the clock ticking as much as possible.

And if you've got a kid with that kind, kind of stick work, you put them right in the corner.

She uses her body.

As long as the ball's moving in front of her, there's no obstruction.

So as long as she maintains control, she can do that for as long as she wants.

But, and as, as we said, there's no defense for it other than to stay with her.

But while she's doing it, obviously, the clock's ticking off.

So Harford got the first goal of the game.

Then it was Jade True for two.

Kendall Killen, the fourth goal at LPs, the goal for the Phoenix.

And she's got it here, but dispossess coming the other way and we're hearing the crowd down below us for the ponies sensing it here under a minute.

Stay with us post-game.

We'll have the post-game awards as well here on main public television.

Great game to start, Rob.

Both teams came in well-respected, showed us why they're here.

There's no question about it.

Spruce Mountain fought all game long.

There was, uh, no give up in their sticks, that's for sure.

Well, the ponies.

And there she goes directly to the corner again.

And Rayfield.

You notice she uses the sideline and the end line as a defense.

So she can't, they can't get her, can't get her from the front because she's.

And she will run the clock out in the ponies.

From Foxcroft Academy will finish with a perfect 18 and O mark for the 2025 season and they are the Class C, State Field Hockey Champions.

Congratulations to the ponies.

And the champions in just a few moments.

Phoenix.

And another.

Reminder, please keep them.

Uh, Spruce Mountain will finish at 13, four and one on their season.

Came in as a number one, uh, three seat and managed to work their way to the state championship game, but elation on the sidelines and out on the field now.

Gathered out there are the ponies.

See some of the fine crowd that's filtered in here to Dawn Ru.

Field here on the campus of Lewiston High School.

Well, no better feeling than that, uh, Mo McNally, to know that you've come through a state championship game, played a good solid game.

And, uh, certainly you're gonna say that the ponies won that game.

Sometimes, you know, uh, you know, you, you take a, a game and you come out victorious and go, "Geez, we didn't play that great."

Well, they played great here today.

Oh, they certainly did.

They showed why they were the number one seat and they showed why they were undefeated.

And, and, uh, they came with a great reputation and they showed us why they were here today.

And, um, well coached by both teams today.

Yes.

Both.

Teams played, uh, very good field hockey today.

The passing game was crisp.

The shots were sh- sharp.

Um, the goaltenders on both ends, made some great saves.

Uh, both communities should be real proud of these two teams today.

And as you, uh, related early on, you saw the tone of the game.

The officials let the kids play and they decided it on the field.

Uh, no penalty shots.

Uh -.

Right.

Uh, anything else along that line.

So, uh, a good clean game, I guess, was what, what we would say.

And, uh, we're glad that we're able to bring it to you here on Maine Public Television.

Our first ever Field Hockey State Championship coverage might be our first field hockey game ever that we have covered here on Maine Public as we look to expand our offerings with the NPA.

And kind words by Mike Bernerman who is up here and, uh, talking about the relationship that the MPA has with, uh, Maine Public Television.

And he credits, uh, Nick Godfrey with a lot of that, uh, working with Nick and, uh, working through all the process.

Nick, our producer and director, wants the whole show here.

We will get the award ceremony coming up.

We're.

Gonna be able to tap into the PA and we'll turn it over to that.

At this time, I would ask Spruce Mountain coach Alex Bassey and assistants, Nicole Burgess, Julianne Doran, and Alicia Bridges to please come forward.

We'll be presenting the runner-up awards by class.

First to the freshmen.

Number three, Reese Gatz.

Number six, Callie Allen.

Number eight, Quinn Johnson.

Number 15, Libby Nightingale.

Sophomores, number nine, Riley Wright.

Number 10, Linda Lake.

Number 11, Alyssa Yanelli.

Number 12, Ela Armandi.

Number 14, Elena Kachnovich.

Juniors.

Number two, Mallory Richards.

Number 17, Chloe Ames.

Number 18, Maddie Grimaldi.

Number 20, Zoe Grooms.

Number 31, Kylie Marcotte.

Senior Yours.

Number one, Adele Pease.

Number five, Ava Davis.

And number seven, Grace Cuthberton.

At this time, I'd ask the captains from Spruce Mountain to please come forward.

On behalf of the Maine Principles Association and Hammond Lumber Company, we are pleased to present this plaque, emblematic of the runners up in the 2025 Class C Field Hockey State Championship to the Phoenix of Spruce Mountain High School.

Congratulations.

Now at this time, I'd ask Foxcroft Academy Coach Devin Walker, Assistants Kylie Sally, Taylor Dow, and Ava Rayfield to please come forward for the presentation of the State Championship Awards.

Once again, we will be presenting by class, starting with the freshmen.

Number four, Maddie Koffel.

Number six, Addie Rayfield.

Number eight, Lucy Bisson.

Number 19, Emma Crossman.

Number 22, Ella Anis.

Number 44, Lexi Richardson.

Number 99, Lauren Caruso.

And McKinley Sands.

Sophomores, number two, Ella Hutchinson.

Ava Dunton.

Kendall Killam.

Harlow Boulier.

Ava Turner.

Anna Martos.

Lola Calvo.

Juniors.

Cameron Coello.

Maddie Sands.

Jenna Hartford.

Jayden Frigon.

Julia Smith.

Payson Hall.

Lily Bisson.

Seniors.

Number 14, JD True.

And number 21, Emma McGarry.

Would the 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 2025 Class C Field Hockey State Championship to the ponies of Foxcroft Academy.

Congratulations.

So you see the awards?

We'll take a break.

We'll come back.

We'll have some more post-games.

When we come back, you're watching Maine Public Sports.

Championship Weekend on Maine Public is made possible by.

Hammond Lumber Company, serving contractors, homeowners, and do-it-yourselfers with building supplies and custom services from 34 locations across Maine and New Hampshire.

Coastal Auto Parts, selling NAPA Auto Parts since 1981.

Owned and operated by a Maine family and proud to support student athletes.

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.

And by viewers like you.

Thank you.

Yvette, you can see that the Foxcroft Ponies are over with their fans.

They are celebrating a perfect 18 and 0 season.

Good group coming down.

Great sports fans up in the Dover Foxcroft area.

They support all their teams magnificently, and you can see a c - large contention of fans there.

The kids holding the signs up.

And we're gonna get a chance to go down to Ethan Snow down on the field for some post-game interview.

Ethan?

Thank you very much, Rob.

Coach.

The trend continues every year since 2007.

Every six years for this program now, and it continues today.

This year, unbeaten, regular, unbeaten season for you.

What does this mean for this program in this community?

It feels good to bring it home.

They are, they work hard all year long, and, um, we're proud of them, and the community's proud, and we're excited to bring it on back.

The fact that you've been knocking on the doorstep the past couple of years and to finally get over that hump this season and just talk a little bit about your senior group.

They've been through a lot.

They've been so close.

Talk about your seniors.

Yeah, so we have two of them, and I, I started when they were freshmen, so this feels like a full circle moment to send them off.

Uh, they're hard workers, they're good leaders, and, um, super proud.

Well, Coach, congratulations.

Enjoy the bus ride back to Dover Foxcroft and enjoy the championship.

Rob, Bo, back to you.

Thank you, Ethan.

We got some post-game stats.

Let's go to Mo McNally.

Uh, special thanks to Sharon Glant for collecting these, but we take a look at the stacks.

They l - a little skewed in favor of Foxcroft.

Shots on goal, 15 to two totals for the game.

Um, then we take a look at, uh, wide shots.

Foxcroft had six that were wide.

Uh, Spruce Mountain had two that were wide.

Look at goalie saves.

And again, great showing by both goalies, but we take a look at the goalie saves.

Marquardt, uh, for Spruce had 10 saves on the game with only one coming from Bisson.

Corners were 11 to seven in favor of, uh, Foxcroft and Shots off Coners.

Foxcroft had seven shots off, uh, penalty corners to create offensive opportunities.

So a little skewed in, in the Pony's favor, but a great showing by both teams, Rob.

Absolutely.

Thanks, Mo.

And, uh, you see teams back on the field.

They're getting set to warm up.

We will take a break and we will come back.

We'll have game two of our trifecta.

But first, we'll throw it back to the studio.