Nipping a rival

SACO — Before this season, Kim Vogel did not score a goal for the Sanford Redskins field hockey team.

However, she has changed that trend in the past three games, scoring a goal per game, including the knockout blow in Wednesday afternoon’s 1-0 victory over fellow York County rival, the Thornton Academy Golden Trojans.

Vogel’s goal came halfway through the second half. She smacked a shot 10 feet in front of Thornton Academy goalie Zoe Colton, which deflected off Colton’s left shinpad and into the goal.

“I just kind of got the stick on the ball and pushed it as hard as I could,” Vogel said.

Vogel scored her first varsity goal in a matchup against Portland Sept. 24, then scored again in a 4-2 loss to Scarborough. She said she was unsure of explaining of how she’s been able to continue the scoring streak, but was happy to help deliver a win for the Redskins.

“Any win is a great win,” Vogel said. “We’re not the same team we were last year. Any win is a great win at this point.”

Throughout the first half of the game, both teams displayed tough defense in different ways. Sanford (7-3) used a swarm attack on the Trojans anytime they came near goalie Emily Downing, successfully prying the ball away from Thornton Academy players and moving the pressure back to the other side of the field.

For the Trojans (6-5), Colton was the leader of the defense, making 2 excellent saves in the first half to deny the Redskins any early goals.

Thornton Academy turned up the heat to start the second half, putting more pressure on Sanford’s defense. However, the Redskins made the most of their opportunities, moving breakaways down the field when they could, until Vogel scored her goal at the halfway point in the half.

The Trojans continued to move the ball on Sanford after the goal, having numerous opportunities to score on penalty corners, but to no avail.

Thornton’s best chance to score came with seven minutes left in the game, when Downing made a highlight reel save — doing a split to stop the ball before reaching the net that would make an NHL goalie jealous — to help clinch the win.

Vogel said Downing’s save was nothing new.

“Emily saves the day all the time,” she said.

Vogel said the 2009 Redskins are different than in years past, as they have new players they are trying to develop. However, Sanford still remains within the top five teams in Western Class A in the Maine Principal Association Heal Point standings. Thornton Academy is not far behind, as it is currently in sixth place.

“I think we have a lot of up and coming players,” Vogel said. “Last year we had a hardcore offense. Our defense has stayed the same. We’re waiting for our time to come. We’re getting there.”

The Redskins host the Windham Eagles on Friday, while the Trojans will hit the road on Friday to take on the Red Riots of South Portland.

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