FALMOUTH—Scarborough’s field hockey team appears to be figuring it out at the most optimal time.
And the rest of Class A South had better take notice.
The Red Storm who snapped a four-game losing streak with a dramatic victory Saturday, made it two in a row Wednesday evening at Falmouth’s Stadium Field, scoring once in each half to beat the host Navigators.
Senior Caroline Hartley, best known for her basketball exploits, set up the first score, late in the opening stanza, with a powerful long hit that was tipped in by senior Emma Lally.
Falmouth wasn’t able to generate a response and midway through the third quarter, Hartley scored on a rebound to double the lead.
With the Red Storm defense and senior goalie Jamila Mohamed slamming the door from there, Scarborough went on to a 2-0 victory.
The Red Storm evened their record at 6-6 and in the process, dropped the Navigators to 8-4.
“We had to put the puzzle pieces together and we seem to be jelling now,” said longtime Scarborough coach Kerry Mariello, after her 263rd career victory. “I just keep telling them to ride the wave and hopefully the confidence gets built. We kind of had to blow things up. We put a whole new package in there, different formations and ideas. That seems to be working right now and hopefully that’s all we need. Aside from us being extremely young, it’s just a matter of having success.”
Out of hibernation
Falmouth and Scarborough are longtime contenders who have taken different paths this fall, with the Navigators enjoying more success than many expected, while the Red Storm have struggled to hit their stride.
Falmouth didn’t face much in the way of preseason hype, but opened with 3-0 home wins over South Portland/Westbrook and Kennebunk and after a 4-1 setback at Biddeford, beat visiting Noble in overtime (2-1), host Sanford (1-0) and host Windham (3-2), giving longtime coach Robin Haley her 250th victory with the program. After a 2-1 overtime loss at Marshwood, the Navigators bounced back to blank visiting Massabesic and Bonny Eagle by 3-0 scores before shutting out host Portland/Deering, 7-0. Monday, Falmouth valiantly played reigning Class A South champion Cheverus to a scoreless tie through three quarters before surrendering four goals in the fourth to fall, 4-0.
Scarborough, meanwhile, started the season with a 3-2 overtime win over Windham, then lost at home to Cheverus (7-1). The Red Storm knocked off Windham again (3-1) and beat Thornton Academy (6-1). After a 2-1 loss at Gorham, Scarborough handled Marshwood (4-1), then hit the kind of rough patch not seen since 2004 (Mariello’s third season), as it was blanked at Massabesic (1-0), lost at home to Biddeford (2-0), at Cheverus (5-1) and at Biddeford (3-0) before ending its skid Saturday with a 2-1, double-overtime home victory over Noble.
“We were just stuck in a rut,” said Hartley, who scored in OT to beat the Knights. “It was surprising because we’re not used to losing. Having to go through that brought our team together more. We knew we had to have each other’s backs and keep playing no matter what.”
Last year, Scarborough won at Falmouth, 2-0.
Wednesday, on a night that alternated between chilly and drizzly, the Red Storm duplicated the result, but it didn’t come easily.
Scarborough senior Maggie Pendergast and Falmouth sophomore Violet Westburg lunge for the ball early in the Red Storm’s 2-0 victory Wednesday. Hoffer photos.
The Navigators had the first good looks at the goal, but both sophomore Keira Kelly and sophomore Jaleyn Meader (after taking a pass from senior Valerie Rand) missed wide.
After a promising cross from Hartley sailed through the goalmouth untouched, Scarborough got the jump with 2:57 to play in the first quarter.
Hartley sent the ball in with a long free hit from behind the circle and Lally, positioned in the circle, managed to get her stick on the ball and redirect it past Falmouth senior starting goalie Jenna Nunley for a 1-0 advantage.
“In those situations, I just want to crush it in,” Hartley said. “That’s the first time we’ve gotten that touch this season. That’s what I’ve been wishing for. I’m really proud of Emma for getting it.”
“They don’t have to be pretty goals,” said Mariello. “We always have to have our sticks active. We won a state championship (in 2009) that way. I don’t care how they go in, just get them in.”
After Mohamed denied Kelly on a shot off a penalty corner, the game went to the second period, where Mohamed robbed junior Elizabeth Brown on the doorstep.
At the other end, Hartley was stymied by Nunley and Scarborough clung to a one-goal lead at the break.
Falmouth junior Elizabeth Brown dribbles the ball past Scarborough junior Ruby Weidner.
The Navigators fought hard for the equalizer when the second half commenced, but Mohamed turned aside a shot from Brown, then junior Allie Sweetser had a shot off a corner go wide.
With 6:14 left in the third quarter, the Red Storm doubled their lead.
Scarborough was able to pressure senior Adele Gamage, who had come on at halftime, and Gamage stopped two initial shots, but Hartley got to a rebound and swept it home to make it 2-0.
“When I’m in the circle, I just swing and want to get the ball in the goal so badly,” Hartley said. “I got lucky there.”
“There are a lot of intangibles in field hockey and basketball that go hand in hand,” Mariello said. “Knowing, reading, understanding, a competitive nature. All of those qualities (Caroline) has. She’s quite an athlete and she’s a vital contributor to us.”
The Red Storm had to hold on for dear life in the fourth period, but Mohamed, as she’s been all season, was up to the challenge, saving shots from Meader and Kelly in an early flurry.
After Hartley cleared the ball on a Falmouth corner, the Navigators got another corner opportunity, but couldn’t produce a shot.
Scarborough was able to run out the clock from there and celebrate a 2-0 victory.
Scarborough junior Ava Eccles and senior goalie Jamila Mohamed raise their sticks in celebration at the final horn.
“This was a really big game for us,” said Hartley. “We were a little shaken when we saw the Falmouth game against Cheverus. We knew they’d be a great team. It’s always a close game when we play. We knew this would be important. That amped up our energy and we knew we had to win it.”
Scarborough had a 10-6 advantage in shots on frame and Mohamed made six saves.
“Jamila has really been the backbone of our team,” Hartley said. “Without her, our season would be very different. Our defenders are inexperienced, but they’ve stepped up to the challenge.”
Falmouth got six saves from Gamage and two from Nunley and earned six corners, but for the second game in a row, couldn’t get the ball in the cage.
“There was a carryover from Monday and you could feel it,” said Haley. “The girls were ready to play, but that was such an emotional game, then having just one day in-between and coming back was tough. I wish we had an extra day to decompress.
“We struggled, but (Scarborough) outplayed us today, plain and simple. They stopped every free ball we had. We had our opportunities in the circle and their goalie came up with some great saves. I thought the fourth quarter, we played as we know we’re capable of.”
Postseason party time
Falmouth (currently ranked fourth in the Class A South Heal Points standings) goes to Thornton Academy Friday, then finishes Tuesday of next week at Gorham.
“I think we just have to start out stronger,” Haley said. “We have to be more consistent. We’ve been better than middle-of-the-pack and we’d like to make a playoff run. We’re capable, but we have to put all the pieces together.”
Scarborough (fifth in Class A South) finishes with home games versus Sanford Saturday and South Portland/Westbrook Tuesday of next week.
“We just need to play like we did today, energetic, stepping to every ball and being defensive-minded,” Hartley said. “I think this team can be the team that can surprise people. It happens every playoffs.”
“We want to finish on a high note,” Mariello said. “We just have to show up and play our game and hopefully we’ll get a big win in the playoffs. We’ll have the challenge of having to do it on grass.
“We have nothing to lose. We’re very young. We just want to be the best version of ourselves.”
Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. For game updates and links to game stories, follow him on Threads: @foresports2023
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