WINTHROP — Spruce Mountain used its experience in Monday’s Class C South field hockey showdown with Winthrop/Maranacook.
Senior Olivia Mastine led the Phoenix with two goals in a 3-1 victory against the defending Class C state champions at Charlie’s Field at Maxwell Complex.
“We started good from start to finish,” Mastine said.
The Phoenix have six seniors on the roster, while the Ramblers have no seniors and only three juniors.
“We are a young team and we have some things to work on,” Winthrop coach Melissa Perkins said.
Mastine gave Phoenix (6-1) a 1-0 lead midway through the first quarter when she darted into the circle and fired a shot past Winthrop (8-1) starter Brynn Stubbert. Maddie Grimaldi had the assist.
“Was just going for it,” Olivia Mastine said.
Spruce Mountain extended the lead at the end of the first quarter when Miley Fournier slid a backhand shot past Stubbert with two seconds left.
“She’s one of our smoothest players,” Spruce Mountain coach Racheal Mastine said. “She’s definitely fantastic on turf and she has great stick work. She definitely shined today.”
The Phoenix did a solid job keeping the Ramblers at bay in the first half. Winthrop struggled to generate any offense off of penalty corners.
“Our focus coming in was defense,” Racheal Mastine said. “We have scored a lot of goals this year, and we have a lot of girls who can score, but defense was our focus and key today. Our defensive line and goalie were amazing.”
Phoenix goalie Mallory Clark made back-to-back saves in the second quarter. She said she had to take on a bigger role in the game with sweeper Elizabeth Grondin unavailable for the contest.
“I had to be louder and talk to (the defense) if someone was open or if I didn’t know where the ball was,” Clark said. “I think it worked out very well.”
Clark (eight saves) kept an eye out for Winthrop’s Madeline Wagner and Izzy Folsom because Spruce Mountain was shadowing them throughout the game.
Fournier almost set up a third Phoenix goal when she made a backdoor pass attempt to Amelia Holland, but the ball went out of bounds.
Winthrop had a penalty corner when time expired at the end of the second quarter, but couldn’t get a shot off.
Olivia Mastine added to the Phoenix’s lead when she ran to the goal and her shot beat Cyara Harriman just past the six-minute mark of the third quarter. Harriman replaced Stubbert at the start of the second quarter.
Adell Pease picked up her second assist of the game. She had her first on Fournier’s tally.
“They are just a very experienced team,” Perkins said. “Our younger players…that’s a lot, and it’s very intimidating. They went out and they played hard; they played to the end.”
Clark once again made a couple of stops to keep Winthrop scoreless.
“I always try to be ready for it,” Clark said. “I feel like when it’s happening, I zone out.”
Wagner had a hard shot on goal, but Clark challenged her and made a pad save. The Ramblers chased the ball down and Kylee Mansir potted Winthrop’s first tally just past the eight-minute mark of the fourth quarter.
Perkins said the loss is a learning experience.
“These girls will take this and they will work hard,” Perkins said.
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