Leavitt’s Jada Beedy, left, and Freeport’s Sydney Gelhar struggle for control of the ball during Monday’s game in Turner. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal
TURNER — Leavitt found its footing at halftime and remained undefeated with a 2-0 victory over Freeport in a battle of Class B field hockey contenders on Monday.
The Hornets (9-0) began a big week, and an important stretch, of tough games a little slow. Freeport’s attack was stronger and generated more scoring opportunities in the scoreless first half.
The Hornets quickly changed the complexion of the game after halftime. Izzy Gates took a long cross from Olivea Miller in front of the goal and fired a long shot that somehow made it into the cage to put Leavitt up 1-0 only 2:05 into the second half.
The Hornets controlled possession more often in the second half and pushed the ball upfield in various ways – including high-arching lift shots, which Freeport assistant coach Karin Kurry said the Falcons haven’t seen much of this season. Both teams, however, were strong defensively and shut down most scoring chances before they became serious scoring threats.
Leavitt capitalized on a scoring opportunity with about seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The ball rolled in front of the cage, and Ainsley Barry got a stick on it and scored.
Freeport (6-3-1) created a quality scoring chance with about four minutes to play, but Leavitt goalie Emily Poland stopped a shot by Anna Maschino to keep the Falcons scoreless.
Kurry, filling in for head coach Marcia Wood who was ill, said that the Falcons played well, especially considering the heat and that the game was on a grass field. Freeport’s home field is artificial turf.
“Definitely. I’m very happy with how they played, and some kids really stepped up who are in new positions,” Kurry said. “I wish we could – I mean, we were right on the cage, we just couldn’t finish.”
The shutout is the third straight and seventh of the season for the Hornets, have outscored opponents 45-2.
OAK HILL 2, BOOTHBAY 1: Madalyn Sikora scored her second goal of the game early in the fourth quarter to lift the Raiders (4-5-1) past the Seahawks (2-7) in Wales.
Izzy Whitaker assisted on the game-winning goal. Emma Bourgoin provided an assist on Sikora’s first goal 50 seconds into the game.
Ariel Alamo scored from Lily Nein off a penalty corner with no time remaining in the first half for Boothbay.
Sierra Lane stopped 12 of 13 shots for Oak Hill, while Cass Amaral made 13 saves for Boothbay.
WAYNFLETE 2, TRAIP ACADEMY 1: Nicole Adler put home a pass from Tilsley Kelly with two minutes left in the first overtime as the Flyers (3-5) outlasted the Rangers (2-6-1) in Portland.
Sara Levenson broke a scoreless tie early in the third quarter with an unassisted goal for Waynflete, but Lucy Balanos answered for Traip Academy just seven minutes later.
GRAY-NEW GLOUCESTER/NYA 3, FRYEBURG ACADEMY 3: Grace Porcaro had a pair of fourth-quarter goals, one on a penalty stroke and the tying goal on a pass from Elise Dunn, as Fryeburg Academy (1-6-1) rallied to secure a tie with the visiting Patriots (4-4-1)
Ella Dean opened the scoring for the Raiders with an unassisted goal in the second quarter. Emma Bowden had a goal and an assist for GNG/NYA, while Kenlie Nadeau and Greta Tod added goals.
Rayna Wales recorded seven saves for the Raiders, while Samantha Poulin stopped 16 shots for the Patriots.
BIDDEFORD 7, THORNTON ACADEMY 0: Ayla Lagasse had three goals and an assist as the Tigers (7-3) beat the Golden Trojans (3-7) at Saco.
Corinne Ramunno added a goal and two assists for Biddeford, while Hannah Sonne-Loranger, Riley Langevin and Cordelia Kane all scored.
Allison Marines recorded 25 saves for Thornton Academy.
GIRLS’ SOCCER
GORHAM 2, CHEVERUS 0: Bailey Hatch scored off a corner kick with an assist from Kaitlyn Nichols as the Rams (9-1) opened a 1-0 edge at halftime and beat the Stags (6-3-1) at Gorham.
Julia Reed added a second-half goal for Gorham as she finished off a cross from Sarah Rosingana.
Evelyn Rush recorded 10 saves for Cheverus, while Sawyer VonderHarr stopped all seven shots she faced for the shutout.
FALMOUTH 2, DEERING 1: Afton Mick scored on a rebound off a corner kick with 7:56 left in regulation to lift Falmouth over Deering in Portland.
The Navigators (9-1), who have won nine in a row, took an early lead on a goal from Ella Morse, but the Rams (2-6-1) tied it on a penalty kick from Elsa Freeman late in the first half.
Sophie Hill made five saves for Deering. Abigail Pausman stopped four shots for Falmouth.
THORNTON ACADEMY 2, MARSHWOOD 1: Hadley Stoddard took a pass from Kaylee Pellerin, broke free and scored in the 71st minute to give the Golden Trojans (6-2-1) the lead against Hawks (4-4) at South Berwick.
Riley Smith knocked in a rebound after a free kick in the 18th minute to give Marshwood the early lead. Kiana Serunjogi one-timed a cross from Stoddard to pull Thornton Academy even in the 29th.
Lana Emery turned aside 18 shots for the Hawks, while Olivia Frederickson recorded seven saves for the Trojans.
WINDHAM 7, NOBLE 0: Marley Jarvais had three goals and three assists as the Eagles (6-3) beat the Knights (3-5-1) at Windham.
Kyla Harvie and Abby Lloyd each had a goal and an assist, while Stella Jarvais and Mackenzie Delewski also scored.
Chole Comtois stopped 14 shots for Noble, while Ale Hidell and Libby Hartwell split time in goal, combining for five saves.
SOUTH PORTLAND 4, WESTBROOK 0: Marina Bassett recorded a pair of goals for the Red Riots (4-3-2) against the Blue Blazes (0-6-2) at Westbrook.
Nola Gorneau had a successful penalty kick for South Portland, while Emma Travis chipped in with a goal.
BIDDEFORD 2, MASSABESIC 1: Abby Bouffard scored the go-ahead goal in the 60th minute on a feed from Hannah Smith as the Tigers (2-8) defeated the Mustangs (0-8-1) at Biddeford.
Brynn Bshara opened the scoring with an unassisted goal in the first half for Massabesic. Bouffard scored minutes later on a pass from Brooke Girard.
Hanna Troiano of Massabesic and Biddeford’s Gabby Smith each made six saves.
SCARBOROUGH 6, PORTLAND 0: Delia Fravert and Lana Djuranovic had two goals apiece for the Red Storm (8-1) as they easily got past the Bulldogs (3-6) at Scarborough.
Maya Taylor and Talia Borelli each added goals for Scarborough while Vera DiSotto recorded her first career shutout, turning away four shots.
Lucy Tidd had 12 saves for Portland.
VOLLEYBALL
WINDHAM 3, LEWISTON 1: Joe Sibley tallied six aces, four kills and 18 assists, Sydney Harmon contributed five kills, three aces and two digs, and the Eagles (3-7) held off the Blue Devils (3-6) in Windham.
Lewiston’s Holland Clyburn finished with four aces, three kills and three digs, while Isabella Enos had five digs, four aces and two kills and Mika Torres had 12 assists.
– Lee Horton of the Sun Journal contributed to this report
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