Grace Dumond, right, Erin Lachance, Emma Begin and Mikayla Tabor of Lewiston High School celebrate Dumond’s overtime goal in Lewiston on Thursday. Lachance had the assist on the play that beat Edward Little High School 1-0. (Daryn Slover/Sun Journal)
LEWISTON — Lewiston was back on its heels against Edward Little’s pressure throughout Thursday’s rivalry field hockey meeting on Don Roux Field.
The Blue Devils, like Muhammad Ali in his fight with George Foreman in the famous “Rumble in Jungle” in 1974, used the rope-a-dope strategy to defend, as they took punches, or in this case stopped shots.
Lewiston’s two senior goaltenders — Ashley Cronkhite and Jillian Labbe — combined to make five saves on 11 EL shots. They did their job by keeping the game scoreless into overtime. Grace Dumond then provided the knockout punch, scoring to lift the Blue Devils over the Red Eddies 1-0.
Dumond’s shot was only Lewiston’s third of the game.
Dumond received an Erin Lachance pass off a corner. When the ball got to her she unleashed a shot and found the back of the cage 2:30 into the eight-minute overtime session. Dumond didn’t believe it counted at first because the ball was at least 3 feet off the ground.
“I thought they were going to call it (for a dangerous shot), and (the refs) were going to blow it (dead). I thought it was going to be (EL’s) ball again,” Dumond said. “Someone hit it and it was a perfect goal. I couldn’t be happier with it.”
The team especially likes corners in overtime, when play is 7-on-7. Dumond said it’s the best part of the Blue Devils’ game and from which their best shots typically come.
The goal was made possible by a strategy adjustment by Lewiston coach Chelsea Fournier. Lewiston decided short passes were the better technique to get through the Red Eddies’ defense.
“We had to spread out, we had to play a better game of small passes and give and gos,” Fournier said. “We realized we were beating them on that and we just needed to perfect that. … Literally the last (sequence) of the game we went one side to other, one side to the other, one side to the other, a good breakaway that lead into the corner.”
Dumond gave credit to Lachance on the corner.
“She’s the perfect inserter, she’s an amazing player,” Dumond said. “I am happy I get to play alongside of with her every step of the way. She’s been an awesome captain the past year-and-a-half.”
The Red Eddies had their chances especially in the final four minutes in regulation when they had three corners, including two back-to-back.
EL coach Kim Joler said the Red Eddies’ problem was that they didn’t finish.
“We definitely played hard and we took our shots, but it didn’t add up, it wasn’t enough,” Joler said. “We need to make sure we are back on the field (Friday) and work on the things we need to work on, which is basically we need to score some goals.”
The Red Eddies (4-8) have just scored 15 goals in their 12 games this season. Five of them came in their opening win against Brunswick, four against Hampden Academy and another three came when they hosted Lewiston (3-9) earlier in the season. They have been shutout six times this season.
Joler did like the pressure her team put on Lewiston in the opening half, and the passes the players made to get into the circle. But inside the 25-yard circle is where the breakdowns took place.
Fournier said the victory has been the culmination of the work her team has put in so far this season.
“I am so proud of this team. They work so hard and we have been looking for a ‘W,'” Fournier said. “It feels better we got a ‘W’ here on our field against EL. It’s the best feeling.”
Cecilia Miller, right, of Lewiston High School competes for the ball with Courtney Larson of Edward Little in Lewiston on Thursday. (Daryn Slover/Sun Journal)
Abigail Chartier, left, of Lewiston High School competes for the ball with Courtney Larson of Edward Little in Lewiston on Thursday. (Daryn Slover/Sun Journal)
Mya Grant, left, of Lewiston High School and Kiara Fournier of Edward Little High School hustle after the ball in Lewiston on Thursday. (Daryn Slover/Sun Journal)
Caroline LaPerriere, left, of Lewiston High School and Becca Raby of Edward Little High School chase down the ball in Lewiston on Thursday. (Daryn Slover/Sun Journal)
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