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HIGH SCHOOL FIELD HOCKEY

A 'freaky' finish

Skowhegan beats Messalonskee when lights go out at Colby

By Matt DiFilippo mdifilippo@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

WATERVILLE -- The field hockey players from Skowhegan and Messalonskee high schools were excited to play under the lights on the turf at Colby College.

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TOUGH ANGLE: Skowhegan’s Jessica Skillings, left, pushes a shot past Messalonskee defender Kristy Bernatchez in the first half of a Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class A field hockey game Thursday night at Colby College.

Staff photo by Michael G. Seamans

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RACING AROUND: Skowhegan’s Haley Holt, right, sprints past a Messalonskee defender during a Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class A field hockey game Thursday night at Colby College. Skowhegan won 1-0.

Staff photo by Michael G. Seamans

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Only problem was, the only lights left at the end of the night were from the stars.

With 5 minutes, 39 seconds left and Skowhegan leading 1-0, the lights suddenly went out. With visibility limited to a few feet, the officials called the game, giving Skowhegan a 1-0 victory.

"In 30 years, I've never had that happen," Skowhegan coach Paula Doughty said. "Wow! That was freaky, wasn't it?"

Once a few people got to their cars, the headlights enabled everyone else to get off the field safely. It was an abrupt ending to a well-played game by both teams. Skowhegan outshot the Eagles 14-5 but Messalonskee was gaining momentum in the last few minutes.

"I think Paula ran over and pulled the plug," Messalonskee coach Brenda Beckwith joked.

"It wasn't a fun way to win, with the lights going out," Doughty added. "Nobody wants to win that way. A lot of teams wouldn't have that kind of sportsmanship, but Brenda's a class act."

Skowhegan (3-0) scored 1:54 into the second half when Sarah Finnemore converted a nice pass by Haley Holt. The Indians could have scored more, but Messalonskee goalie Lexy Cole made several diving saves, including one on Jessica Skillings on a 2-on-0 breakaway.

"We left Lexy alone there for sniper hunting a couple times. She came up really big," Beckwith said. "They're so well-coached at drawing you out, dumping it behind you and knocking it in. Lexy read that really well."

Messalonskee (2-1) had only two penalty corners, which Beckwith attributed to the Eagles trying to convert long passes instead of making a series of high-percentage passes.

Although the teams met in last year's Eastern A final, which Skowhegan won 2-0, Doughty said the Eagles are much improved since last season.

"I was thrilled, really," Doughty said. "Messalonskee is an outstanding team. I was a little disappointed -- we had a lot of corners, that we didn't score on. But for such a young team (as ours), I was happy."

Skowhegan's goal came after Cole stopped an initial shot and the rebound went right to Holt on the right post. Rather than fire in another shot, Holt quickly surveyed the situation and passed across the cage to Finnemore, who sent home the goal.

"I saw that the goalie was right in front of me in the goal," Holt said. "So instead of hitting it into the pads, I just ditched it off to the side, because Sarah called my name."

Matt DiFilippo -- 861-9243

mdifilippo@centralmaine.com