WMS field hockey delivers season-opening win over Gorham

By Matt Pascarella

Windham Middle School’s field hockey team started strong and showed they were an organized group right from its first game, walking off with an awesome 6-1 win over the Gorham Rams at Gorham on Sept. 20.

Windham eighth grader Hayley Johnsen heads toward the
goal while keeping her focus on the ball during the WMS
field hockey season-opening game at Gorham on Friday.
Sept. 20. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA   

From the moment the game started, Windham showed they had come to win. They moved the ball, had several shots at goal and Windham eighth grader Lucy Stretch scored twice in the first quarter.

“We were finally able to play as one, instead of playing against each other and trying to focus more on feelings than the actual play at hand and going for the gut of going for that goal,” said WMS field hockey coach Allie Belaire. “What I saw today was agility; their ability to stay in very, very, long; keep running as well as we passed the ball – there’s still much room for improvement. Another thing I thought we did very well was our stick skills and seeing the field, when a defender came to one of us, using a dodge and getting around those players. Our field positioning, our spacing and using the whole field (need work). If we pass the ball more, we’ll tire out the other team, instead of dribbling into them and letting them do the work. I think positioning and using the field is something we need to work on as well as attacking that ball right from the start. We have some experienced players and some brand-new players that you couldn’t even tell are brand new; but then we have some players who are all over the field. My expectation over the season is understanding your own role on the field and then being a leader for the younger players.”

Windham saw several opportunities to take advantage of any Gorham errors and capitalized on them. Eighth grader Hayley Johnsen was quick to score early in the second quarter, but the entire team was hustling and working hard to go after the ball. When Gorham had a corner shot, Windham defense was right there to keep them scoreless. After another goal from Johnsen, Windham led 4-0 at the half.

“I think we had really good communication,” said Stretch. “We came in from the start saying, ‘we want to win and win as a team and not just individual (players).’ I also think we had good spreading out and passing and we tried really good team chemistry for our first game. I think we need to work on passing and talking a little bit more, but other than that I think we had a really good first game.”

Johnsen scored from the top of the shooting circle partway through the second half. Windham pressured and its defense remained intense.

“It was a good start,” said Johnsen. “I’m just hoping it can stay that way and stay undefeated and let everyone get a goal and contribute to the team. Definitely good talking and teamwork, passing – which is what matters most. Definitely not clumping (needs work) when we all come to the middle and staying spread out to the sides.”

The whole team worked hard from start to finish, Johnsen said. <