AUGUSTA — Cony scored four goals on Thursday, which is almost as many as Messalonskee had given up all year coming into the game.
But it seemed like every time the Rams scored, Messalonskee retaliated before you could blink.
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Messalonskee’s Emily York matched Cony’s output with four goals of her own, and teammate Kristy Bernatchez added a hat trick as the Eagles pulled away for a 10-4 victory in Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class A field hockey action Thursday afternoon.
“I think it’s all about momentum,” Messalonskee coach Katie Gorham said. “We preach that some, that as soon as they score, it’s our job to shut them down and take away that excitement right away.”
Messalonskee (10-1-1) led 3-0 in the first half on a goal by York and two by Bernatchez. The first goal by Bernatchez was disputed, as Cony back Erika Burns made a beautiful play to deflect the ball out of bounds. After conferring, the officials ruled Burns was in the goal cage and that the ball crossed the line before hitting her stick.
Cony (6-4-1) got some life when it earned a penalty corner with two seconds left in the half. The corner was played out after time ran out, and Nicole Rugan blasted a shot inside the left post to make it 3-1 at halftime.
That became 3-2 when Alyssa Brochu poked in a rebound just 36 seconds into the second half. But in retrospect, that goal just started a pattern: Cony would score one goal, and Messalonskee would respond with a bunch.
Just 1:47 after Brochu’s goal, York found the cage to give Messalonskee a 4-2 lead. Six minutes later, Katie Bernatchez converted a penalty stroke. About seven minutes after that, York was set up by Lynnae Luettich, and it was 6-2.
“It just makes the whole offense really intense, eager to score,” York said. “We’re all setting each other up really well.”
York, a junior forward, has made big strides this year, and now has over 20 goals this season.
“She’s worked really hard to get to where she is now,” Gorham said. “Things have just really clicked for her.”
When Cony got within 6-3 on a goal by Chelsea Begin, the result was even more frustrating for the Rams. Just 23 seconds later, York knocked in a rebound. Within 2 1/2 minutes, the Eagles led 9-3 on goals by Mara Balboni and Kristy Bernatchez.
“It looked like we were chasing a lot,” Cony coach Holly Daigle said. “They had a lot of breakaways, number advantages on us. I think we came up with some big defensive plays in the circle, but they have some girls, their shots are hard (and) they’ve got really great stickwork.”
The last two goals came from Luettich with 3:14 to go and Cony’s Heather Leet with 1:04 left. While the four goals are the most Messalonskee has allowed in some time, the Eagles had allowed only five goals coming into Thursday and had won their last five games by a combined score of 48-0. Messalonskee has another important game this afternoon against Lawrence.
“I think our D’s a little rusty,” Gorham said. “It’s been a little while since they’ve been challenged this hard. I think it was a good wake-up call. We’re going to learn from it and make some big adjustments for tomorrow.”
Matt DiFilippo — 861-9243
mdifilippo@centralmaine.com
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