Mt. Blue’s field hockey team is one for the record books

FARMINGTON – The Mt. Blue High School field hockey team’s perfect 13-0 season is one for the record books.

No one can remember the Cougars going undefeated in regular season play. When this Class A north’s first place team earned the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference championship, that is something that hasn’t been achieved for nearly 40 years at the school.

“I think the last time that happened was back in 1978,” Coach Jody Harmon said.

It took some very impressive play considering they had to handle tough rivals like Messalonskee, coming away with a convincing 4-2 win and the always strong Skowhegan matchup ended in Mt. Blue’s favor with a 1-0 win. The more recent game against Oxford Hills was a real nail biter, too. The Cougars went scoreless until the final 90 minutes when a Mt. Blue ball ricocheted off the goalie’s pads for the 1-0 win.

“Going undefeated in this highly competitive league is quite an accomplishment and it doesn’t come easily,” Harmon said. “It was a very tough battle.”

Mt. Blue’s first playoff game is Wednesday against Brewer at home. The game starts at 3:30 p.m.

During the final practice on Tuesday before the quarterfinal match, senior team captains Leah St. Laurent and Hannah LeClair credit much of the success to the team’s early field hockey start. It used to be that the first opportunity to play field hockey in the Mt. Blue Regional School District came in the seventh grade. Now it begins much earlier.

“I had a stick in my hand by the third grade,” LeClair said and she added that the Class A’s dominate teams like Skowhegan have been doing the same for years.

Harmon said the early feeder program is a key to success as is the hard work the team has put in.

“They are excellent competitors who worked all summer on their skills and strategies. A lot of the players participate in the indoor program as well,” Harmon said.

In order to achieve the ultimate state title dream means taking it just one game at a time, Harmon told the players. “Anyone could take it at this point,” she said.  Next up is the talented Brewer team on Wednesday afternoon.

“We need to work on passing and communication,” St. Laurent said may be the key to winning Wednesday’s first playoff game. LeClair added that the team has traditionally started slow and would get up to speed in the second half, “but we can’t do that against Brewer,” she said.

Whatever the outcome at Wednesday’s game, both captains are thankful for Coach Harmon.

“We adore her,” LeClair said.”She motivates us without yelling and she’s so positive.”