Strong efforts by Windham girls’ field hockey result in a win and a loss

Senior Shyler Fielding heads toward Gorham's
goal in the second quarter of Windham's varsity
field hockey game on Friday, Oct. 23. Fielding
put one in the net early in the game and again
before the end of the first half. While Gorham
did manage to score, Windham held them off
and secured a 2-1 win.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA  

1.      By Matt Pascarella

The Windham girls’ varsity and junior varsity field hockey teams travelled to Gorham High School on Friday, Oct. 23 with the Eagles’ varsity team overpowering the Rams 2-1 and after leaving it all on the field, Windham’s JV fell 1-0.

Varsity

The girls started out with strong offense, and pressured Gorham. Senior Shyler Fielding scored with 6:39 left in the first quarter. Then, less then two minutes into the second half, Fielding struck again, and gave the Lady Eagles a 2-0 lead.

Gorham put one between the posts with 10 minutes left in the half. Windham stole several possessions from Gorham and succeeded at being first to the ball. At the half, it was 2-1 Lady Eagles.

“We’re a unit this year,” said Windham coach Cory DiDonato. “They all get along really well and they all have the same goal. I’ve never had a team that’s worked so well together.” She added it came down to their mentality that got them the win.

Windham’s strong defense held off Gorham for the entire third quarter, keeping their score idle for the remainder of the quarter. Windham chanted ‘intensity’ before taking the field for the start of the fourth quarter and stayed true to their words. They kept the Rams from tying the game.

“I’m really proud of us; I think we played really well as a team,” said Fielding. “I couldn’t have (scored) those goals without my teammates.”

 Junior Varsity

Gorham scored early in the game. The Lady Eagles took multiple shots on goal and had strong defense.
Windham worked hard to be first to the ball and succeeded in doing so. Gorham led 1-0 at the half.

Windham JV coach Tiff Theriault said during halftime the team discussed improving on passing, which improved in the second half, as Windham moved the ball more.

“Gorham is a tough team and Windham held their own,” said Theriault. She said these teams are evenly matched and the girls did great, it just didn’t work in Windham’s favor.

The second half resulted in strong defense from Windham, as they held the Rams to the one goal, but the Lady Eagles didn’t score, and Gorham got the win.

“I think we did really well, basically absorbing how (Gorham) play(ed) and using it to ... transform our team,” said freshman Casey O’Connell. She said the season has gone well, with Gorham being the only team they’ve lost to when they played them earlier in the season. <