JAY — Three games into their KVAC field hockey experience, the Spruce Mountain Phoenix are doing just fine, thank you.

Nicole Hamblin and Kaylee Leclerc scored twice each as the Phoenix rolled to a 6-0 win over Waterville on Saturday, running their record to 3-0 on the season, their first in the conference.

“It’s good, we see new competition, we just have to play well every game and people don’t know what to expect from us,” Hamblin said.

“Playing people once, what an awesome experience,” Spruce Mountain co-coach Jane DiPompo said. “Play them, and then you don’t have to see them again, it’s kind of nice. And you get to see so many different styles of play. It’s awesome.”

Saturday’s final was less indicative of the tougher schedule that lies ahead, but part of the reason for that was momentum the team carried from its last game, a thrilling win over Brewer.

“We wanted to start today the way we ended against Brewer,” DiPompo said. “It was a phenomenal game and these girls were right no, the best they’d played in a long time. We wanted to keep that momentum going and keep playing at a high level.”

The Phoenix made that happen.

Leclerc clanged home the first goal 5:17 into the game, and Hamblin followed 2:16 later on a penalty corner for a 2-0 advantage.

“If we get up, ahead quicker, it gets us more pumped up,” Hamblin said. “And then we keep pushing it in there. we play better.”

Waterville pushed back, and even earned more penalty corner tries in the first half (6) than Spruce Mountain. But keeper Grace Ryan was equal to the task when called upon.

“She’s been great for us this year,” DiPompo said. “She’s been a pleasure to work with. She sets her goals, and of course she’s looking to get some shutouts, to make a statement. And she’s only a junior, so we’re blessed to have her another year.”

The Phoenix gave Ryan more breathing room as the first half ticked forward. Emily Hogan made it 3-0 at 19:41, and Caryn True added a fourth Spruce Mountain tally at 16:27.

Hamblin closed out the half with her second of the night with 37 seconds to play. The balance in scoring for the Phoenix has come this season in part because of a change in style.

“We’ve switched our setup,” DiPompo said. “We were doing a five-front last year, and we’ve gone to a 3-3-3, a more traditional field play, and it’s really worked out for us. Once everybody got used to playing their positions, we started clicking, and we’re getting better every game.”

The switch has made it more difficult for teams to know where to concentrate their coverage.

“What I love is that teams are having a hard time defending us,” DiPompo said. “Do you pick up a Nicole or a Kaylee up front, or are you going to watch out for Patty (Ryan) and the rest of the middle? It’s not an easy choice.”

Hamblin capped the scoring Saturday with 3:31 to play, again on a penalty corner.

The Phoenix run the gauntlet next week, with consecutive games against traditional powers Winslow, Oceanside and Nokomis every other day beginning Tuesday.

“That’s going to be a big test,” DiPompo said.

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