Seniors Kayla Nowell and Kelsey Powers scored as well as junior Rachel Ferland to give Lake Region a field hockey win over Cape Elizabeth, 3-1, Friday.
“They’re the ones that know where to go and know how to handle the ball,” says Lakers coach Dagny Leland. “Those kids that are just coming in are watching to see where they need to be, what they need to be doing, and they have good role models to watch.”
That’s what pleases Coach Leland the most, when she sees the veterans leading by example.
Lake Region got on the board early in this one. Just over three minutes into the game Nowell put the ball into the cage after a corner.
Just a matter of minutes later, Ferland tallied for the Lakers what would prove to be the game winning goal.
The first half belonged to Lake Region who outshot the Capers, 7-1, and held a 2-0 lead at the half.
“I think the first half was a little slow for us,” said Capers coach Lori Fogg. “We weren’t moving to the ball.”
In the second half Cape Elizabeth would inch closer with a goal by Emma Logan off a pass from Heather Furman.
“In the second half they really picked it up and moved to the ball,” said Fogg. “They got more aggressive and hungry to score; it paid off because we did score.”
With the Lakers clinging to a one-point lead, Powers scored from the top of the circle to give her team a little breathing room, 3-1.
Try as they might over the final nine minutes of the game, the Capers were unable to get another goal.
With the win the Lakers improve to 5-2, the loss drops Cape Elizabeth to 3-4.
Still, Fogg likes what she is seeing from her girls.
“I think they’re working better together as a team,” she says. “Not many of them have played a lot together, so they’re coming on with their passing and communication.”
Coach Fogg also says her seniors do a lot of leading by example.
“They’ve got a lot of playing ability and skills so it trickles down,” she says. “We’ve got a lot of freshman on the team they’re helping them with leadership and their roles and placement on the field.”
“I also have a few swing players,” says Leland. “I’m seeing a lot of improvement from them just by playing JV; it gives them more confidence in themselves that they can play up with those seniors.”
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