Orono field hockey team both deep and versatile

HAMPDEN – Nope, no Exedrin headaches for Orono High School field hockey coach Sandie Girard this year.

After all, her team is not only 11-1 and rated second in Eastern Maine according to the most recent Heal Point Standings, but the Riots also feature two things that coaches dream of – depth and versatility.

“I think I’m very fortunate to have the depth coming off the bench for any position,” Girard said after a recent game against Hampden Academy. “I don’t have one star to key around and I don’t have a weak line.

“Plus,” Girard added, “if my midfielders get tired, they’ll switch with my defense. It’s the same thing with my forwards and midfielders. They just switch and fill each other’s positions. It’s a rarity to have.”

The result has been yet another successful season in the history of the storied Orono High field hockey program.

While this year’s Orono team has no stars, a la Jen Pelleriti or Ellen Hall, from forward to goalkeeper this team is the proverbial ideal team.

“I’ve got kids that could shine, but I don’t have any kids who want that,” Girard said. “They play as a team. We win as a team, we lose as a team.”

In terms of scoring, the Riots can look to one of a half dozen players to provide offense spark.

From senior Shelly Tyrrell and junior Kelli Locke to sophomores Tyra Gettleman and Heather Dekanich, the Riots have offensive firepower. Jenn Wlodarski, Amy Oliver, and Missy Ketchen can also put the ball into the goal.

Juniors Amy Cota, Mandy Manzo, and Amy Taylor spearhead the midfield play for Orono while senior sweeper Kathy Abbott and junior goalkeeper Brooke Monberg are the last lines of defense.

“I would say Brooke’s one of the best goalkeepers in this area,” said Girard. “She’s a nice leader back there. She and Kathy work very well together. She takes her losses personally, but she’ll snap out of it and come back strong.”

Girard is in her second year as the head Riot and still feels a little pressure in following in the footsteps of long-time successful coach Dodie Saucier.

“I knew what I was getting into,” the Dexter native said. “There is a lot of pressure because I’ve got big shoes to fill. But like I tell them, the kids do the work. We’re very fortunate to have kids with the desire to work. They push themselves to work harder. With high school girls, that’s hard to find.”

While Girard expected another successful season from her team, the team’s 11-0 start, before dropping a 2-1 overtime decision to Hampden on Monday, was unexpected.

“I expected them to do well, but I never expected to start out going 11-0,” Girard said. “The kids have pulled together and played well. We’ve had a lot of tough competition in these last few weeks.”

The toughest competition is yet to come. Last year, the Riots got ousted from the postseason with a semifinal loss to Hall-Dale.

This year, the Riots are looking to do one better.