WINTHROP — Winthrop senior Maddie Perkins received a pass about 10 yards in front of the cage just over a minute into the second quarter. Just as she has done many times before, Perkins calmly gathered the ball and looked to the cage for an opening. She then moved around several Boothbay defenders, including the goalie, before calmly stroking the ball into the back of the cage.
The goal was No. 69 in her career, which set a new program record.
“I’ve never really scored a goal like that, that one was kind of new with all of those dribble moves” said Perkins, whose team blanked Boothbay, 10-0. “I’m just so happy. I never thought about breaking any sort of record until I found out I was close earlier this season. I can’t believe I did it, I’m pretty much speechless right now. I don’t even know what to think.”
Perkins broke the previous record of 68, which Emily Dooling Hamilton set in 2000. Dooling Hamilton, who was in attendance to award Perkins a gold ball, graduated from Winthrop in 2001.
“I’ve looked up to her for as long as I can remember,” said Perkins of Dooling Hamilton. “I didn’t know that she was going to be here, so that was super cool to share that moment with her.”
Perkins came into Wednesday’s game against Boothbay needing two goals for the record. She scored her first goal toward the end of the first quarter when she beat Seahawks’ goalie Jaelyn Crocker (12 saves) to give the Ramblers a 5-0 lead.
“It’s a special moment for Maddie and for the program as a whole,” said Winthrop head coach Sharon Coulton.
Winthrop’s Maddie Perkins, left, gets congratulated by teammates Emma Shuman, center, and Ryhan Sawlivich after scoring her second goal in the first half and becoming the school’s all-time scoring leader during a field hockey game Wednesday in Winthrop. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal
Coulton, who returned as varsity head coach this season after spending the last several seasons as an assistant, was also the head coach when Dooling Hamilton broke the record in 2000.
Perkins and the Ramblers decided to discount the two goals she scored last season, because of the COVID-altered campaign.
“To do what Maddie did in just three years and not four is pretty impressive,” said Winthrop athletic director Joel Stoneton.
Wednesday marked Winthrop’s final home game of the season. The Ramblers honored their three seniors with a brief ceremony prior at the start of the game. To break the school record on senior day just added to the moment, Perkins said.
“Of course it does, it means a lot,” she said. “I’m happy I was able to do it here on our field.”
Former Winthrop scoring record holder Emily Dooling Hamilton, class of 2001, left, poses with Maddie Perkins, who beat her record, during a halftime ceremony Wednesday against Boothbay/Wiscasset in Winthrop. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal
Winthrop (12-0) got goals from Bella Littler, Lauryn Wood, Madeline Wagner, Julia Letourneau (3), Emma Shuman, Brooke Belz, and Perkins (2). Wagner had two assists while Letourneau and Perkins each had one.
Boothbay managed just two shots on goal, both of which were turned aside by Winthrop backup goalie Madison Weymouth, who relived starter Elle Folsom in the second half. Folsom did not face a shot in the first half.
The strong campaign continues for Winthrop, which sits atop Class C South.
“This truly is a program of tradition,” said Coulton. “Coach (Jessica) Merrill took what I had built and brought it to the next level. She’s a big reason that we are where we are right now, and we hope to keep up this momentum.”
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