Kenney, Mason propel undefeated Dexter past Piscataquis

DEXTER – Despite an undefeated record, the Dexter field hockey team has had trouble scoring this season.

The Tigers struggled a bit, too, early in Wednesday’s game against Piscataquis of Guilford. But a three-goal outburst in the first half helped Dexter to a 6-3 victory over the Pirates at the high school field.

Jana Kenney scored twice, once in each half, to lead 4-0 Dexter, although Jess Mason was the key before halftime as she set up all three goals in a span of about five minutes.

The Tigers had plenty of chances early, but it was better inside passing on a play after a side hit that led to the first goal, which was scored by Olivia Gardner about 10 minutes into the game.

With 16:53 left, Mason passed the ball up to Kenney from the baseline, and Kenney swatted it in for a 2-0 lead. Denise Robinson followed 97 seconds later with another score off a Mason pass.

“I think we’re all aware that scoring tends to be an issue for us,” Kenney said. “Once we kind of calmed down and started looking at what we had, we were more aware of what was open and we began to score.”

Dexter outshot PCHS 13-1 and had 13 corners to none for the Pirates in the first half, allowing Piscataquis just a few offensive runs. Overall, the Tigers had a 20-5 edge in shots on goal.

“We have a strong midfield and when it gets by us, we hustle back to swing around and clear it out,” Mason said. “We communicate really well.”

Dexter finished with 21 corners but managed to score on at most two of those.

“I think we all get a little bit worked up in the circle,” Kenney said. “Once we get calmed down we tend to do a lot better.”

Things were more even in the second half as 0-4 Piscataquis was able to make more offensive runs, but the Pirates couldn’t contain the Tigers. Claire Wyman, Kenney and Mason each scored in the second half.

Still, the Pirates put up three goals of their own after halftime. Alicia Quimby scored two minutes into the period, while Chelsey Hersey and Kaitlyn Smith put in the last two goals of the game. Piscataquis took just four shots in the second half.

“We had to make sure the forward-line players were cutting to the ball and using those quick give-and-goes to get up the field,” PCHS coach Trisha Moulton said. “It seemed like the bigger the give-and-go was, the easier it was for us to get by [Dexter] because they play a system that’s pretty wide. That seemed to work today.”

Dexter goalie Sam Conway finished with two saves. Briana Tweedie of Piscataquis stopped eight shots.

Piscataquis has struggled this year due in part to the graduation of eight seniors from last year’s team. This is the first time Moulton can remember the Pirates going so long for their first win of the season.

“Two of these girls played on the varsity team last year and the rest played JV,” said Moulton, who is in her 12th year as a coach in the program and also played for Piscataquis. “That makes a difference. … We were able to get three goals in, though, and that will give us some confidence.”