The Belfast Lions may be down nine starters from last season’s Class B state field hockey title team, and their consecutive wins streak ended early this fall, but the three-time defending state champs are more than holding their own.

Although it started the season 0-1-1, Belfast won five straight before being beaten 2-1 Saturday by Maranacook of Readfield and 3-0 on Monday to Waterville.

The only returning everyday starters for Belfast are right wing Briana Curry and center midfielder Christine Hill. Claire Banks, a right mid, started the state championship game in the absence of a regular starter.

Hill has stepped into the spot that 2006 Miss Maine Field Hockey Kallie Aldus played last year.

“There is some pressure,” said Hill, who was a center mid as a middle-schooler. “I mean, Kallie was one of the best players we’ve ever had. But I think I’ve adjusted well.”

The rest of the starting front line with Curry includes right inner Allison Murnane, left inner Sami Bark and left wing Crystle Kirby.

Meghan Ballard is the left mid. The starters in the backfield are Katie Osgood at center back, Danielle Littlefield on the right and Renna Smith on the left.

Coach Allen Holmes has played two goalies, Paxton Mohney and Leann Donovan. Other key players are Helene Wallace, Ori Downs and Anne Harrington, a tri-captain who missed the early part of the season with a concussion.

The knowledge so many inexperienced players had to step into big roles helped the squad gel in the preseason.

“Everyone’s come together,” Curry said. “Our team chemistry is really strong this year.”

Coyotes sign, new AD in place

Students who returned to Old Town High a few weeks ago may have noticed some changes.

The concrete sign that marks the entrance to the building on Stillwater Avenue now reflects the school’s change from an Indian mascot to the Coyote. And there’s also a new athletic director in the building.

Old Town principal Joe Gallant said the new sign, which cost around $4,000, went in around Aug. 1.

The stone piece, which features an engraving of the Coyote head, was donated by a group of community members who want to remain anonymous.

The old sign is in storage and Gallant said the city and school board will likely decide what to do with it. Gallant has said he’d like to see it placed outside somewhere in town to honor the history of the school and the town.

Old Town changed mascots during the 2005-06 school year after the school board voted Sept. 20, 2005, to stop using the Indian mascot which had been in place for decades.

The use of the Indian mascot was viewed by some as a way to honor the members of the Penobscot Nation who live on Indian Island and send their children to Old Town’s middle and high schools. Others felt the Indian mascot was degrading to the Penobscots.

The Coyote mascot was officially made the new mascot on Feb. 15, 2006, after a survey of students and a school board vote.

The new sign seems to be a hit.

“We’ve had a lot of nice feedback from people, and we’ve had some people who saw it ask about the history behind it,” Gallant said. “It’s just one more thing that spices up Old Town High School.”

Stan Peterson, an industrial arts teacher at the school, organized the sign’s installation with help from a crew of community members.

“We’re very grateful to Stan and all the people who helped him, and obviously to the people who donated it,” Gallant said.

Meanwhile, former Bucksport High boys basketball and baseball coach Dave Gonyar has taken the part-time athletic director position at the school.

Gonyar replaced Greg Thibodeau, who was a former Old Town varsity girls basketball coach and had been AD since 2003.

DSA to hold tour tryouts

The Caribou-based Dutch Soccer Academy has scheduled two tryouts for a 2008 European tour.

The first tryout will be held Sept. 30 from 1-3 p.m. at Northern Maine Community College in Presque Isle.

The second tryout will be held Oct. 7 from 1-3 p.m. at True Park in Hope.

Boys and girls ages 14-18 are welcome at both tryouts and players need attend only one tryout to be eligible for the trip.

The DSA will head travel April 18-27 through Holland and Belgium. The tour includes three matches against Dutch teams, a training session with a licensed instructor and a ticket to a professional Dutch league match. The tour costs $2,500.

For more information, including directions to the tryout sites, go to www.dutchsocceracademy.com.

Jessica Bloch can be reached at 990-8193, 1-800-310-8600 or jbloch@bangordailynews.net.