SKOWHEGAN – The Skowhegan High field hockey team expects to see tough games as it advances deeper into the Eastern Class A playoffs.
The quarterfinal against eighth-seeded Mt. Ararat wasn’t one of them.
The top-ranked Indians dominated en route to a 6-0 victory Wednesday.
Skowhegan (15-0) will be at home against fourth-seeded Oxford Hills in the semifinals Saturday.
The Indians’ offense pressured the Eagles (6-9) throughout. Skowhegan had 19 penalty corners to none for Mt. Ararat.
“Most games we’ve played mostly offense but when we need to play defense, we can,” said Nicole Sevey, who scored twice.
Skowhegan goalie Anne-Marie Provencal didn’t face a shot, and the Eagles only advanced inside Skowhegan’s circle a handful of times.
The few times the Eagles carried play over midfield, the Indians swarmed and were back on offense.
“The Messalonskee game really helped us,” Skowhegan Coach Paula Doughty said, referring to the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference final. “(Mt. Ararat) didn’t have a shot, but they didn’t have a shot because we played good defense.”
Sevey scored the first goal at 1:37 with a hard, low shot.
“Lately we’ve been practicing not letting the ball just sit in the circle,” Sevey said. “I saw the ball and like the coaches said, just hit it.”
Sarah Finnemore scored 10 minutes in the first half to make it 2-0, and Jessica Skillings was credited with a goal when the ball went in off a defender with 11:16 left in the half.
Erica Blake’s goal with 2:44 left gave the Indians a 4-0 halftime lead.
Skillings and Sevey scored in the second half.
The score could have been more lopsided except for the play of Mt. Ararat goalkeeper Raven Demasi, who finished with 27 saves.
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