PARIS — It was obvious Oxford Hills’ one-goal lead might not stick for the final three quarters against Messalonskee in a Class A North semifinal field hockey game.
The Eagles never let up and had plenty of opportunities to score, which is why Sierra Carson’s two-goal performance came in handy for Vikings, who collected a 3-1 victory on Saturday.
Next up for the second-seeded Vikings (13-2-1) is another regional final matchup with top-ranked Skowhegan (16-0) at Gardiner High School on Wednesday. The River Hawks, who defeated fourth-seeded Mt. Ararat 5-0 on Saturday, beat Oxford Hills 2-1 in last year’s A North title game.
“I was really trying to be aggressive in going to the ball,” Carson said.
Goddard said Carson is “Amazing around the ball. I am not surprised. She is a go-getter and she knows how to finish.”
Carson said that keeping their season going motivated the Vikings on Saturday.
“This could be our last game,” she said. “I think everyone just went in and gave it their all. … Throughout the season, we just (lived) for this game.”
The Eagles (12-4), though, didn’t make anything easy for the Vikings.
“Messalonskee has a strong tradition of field hockey,” Oxford Hills coach Cindy Goddard said. “They play aggressive, they have skill. We knew it was going to be a tough game.”
Oxford Hills struck fast. Carson sent the ball over to Tristen Derenburger, who popped it in the net 55 seconds into the first quarter.
The Vikings’ 1-0 lead didn’t last long. Messalonskee sophomore Chloe Michaud used an assist from Isabel Culver and scored 4:12 into the first quarter to tie game.
But Carson was on the hunt for her first goal, and she got it by taking advantage of senior Allison Slicer’s assist 7:07 into that explosive first quarter, putting Oxford Hills back in front, 2-1.
The Vikings’ defense stepped up — with a strong presence from senior sweeper Zaya Vollmar — to contain and thwart any further attempts by Messalonskee to score.
“For me, I think just my off-ball positioning (worked),” Vollmar said. “I kind of made a triangle with my two backs and I was just right there to pick up the ball whenever needed.”
Oxford Hills assistant coach Hayly Holman said Vollmar stepped into the sweeper position this year.
“She has a really critical eye for the game, and so her off-ball movement is really critical for her success, and she really turned it on the last quarter,” Holman said.
The scoreless second and third quarters featured a lot of mid-field play as missed opportunities slipped away for both teams.
Carson, however, continued to frantically race up and down the field looking for her second goal in the final stanza.
The senior forward got it 1:47 into the fourth. Carson took an Allegra Meagher assist and tucked the ball inside the Messalonskee cage to give the Vikings some breathing room.
The Eagles, though down two goals, remained tenacious the final 12 minutes of the game.
“I liked that the girls really implemented our strategy on defense,” Messalonskee coach Katie Brann said. “I know that (Oxford Hills) scored three goals, but we came up with a ton of interceptions that led to scoring chances, which is very different from the outcome from the last time we played here.”
Oxford Hills has won eight straight games, its last lost a 1-0 setback against Skowhegan on Sept. 24.
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