Defense key for Central Dunakin, Devils defeat Stearns

CORINTH – This time, there was no need for double overtime. Maddie Dunakin, Rachel Trafton and the defensive unit of the Central field hockey team made sure of that.

Dunakin scored one goal and added two assists to power the two-time defending Class C state champions to a 4-1 victory over Stearns of Millinocket at the high school field.

The win should provide a nice bump for the 8-4 Red Devils, who were sitting two places behind the Minutemen in the latest Eastern Maine Class C Heal point standings.

The 7-4-2 Minutemen, who lost to Central 2-1 in double overtime on Sept. 17, kept Central’s Hilary Haney at bay Wednesday. Haney scored both goals in last month’s game.

But Dunakin and Trafton picked up their scoring, accounting for both first-half goals.

“We haven’t been playing our best in every game in the first half and then we come out better in the second half,” Dunakin said. “This time we put our heads to it and said, we’re gonna play hard the whole game.”

Dunakin put in the first goal with 6 minutes, 55 seconds left when she knocked in the rebound of a Trafton shot. Trafton made it 2-0 with 1:04 remaining when she planted herself at the left post and put in a short crossing pass from Dunakin.

Dunakin also assisted on a highlight-reel goal by Sami Morin, who thanks to a pass ahead from Dunakin. Morin, who was alone, blasted in a shot past Stearns goalie Melissa Sheridan.

“I could see her and she was all by herself,” Dunakin said. “I had a defender in front of me so I thought, I can’t get it and she’s right there. She wanted to score so bad.”

Taryn Pineo was credited with the Devils’ fourth goal. The shot that went into the goal box was high over Sheridan’s head but Central coach Diane Rollins said the play was not considered dangerous because Pineo and a Stearns player both hit the ball at the same time, causing it to pop off their sticks and there was only the goalie and no defensive player in front of the play.

Stearns had a goal called off in the first half because the shot was ruled too high.

The Minutemen, who had an 11-7 edge in penalty corners, got a goal from Adriana Eurich. She swept in a pass from Katie Mills in the second half.

“I think the girls stepped it up and played much better in the second half,” Stearns coach Lori Lincoln said. “… I’m not disappointed in how we played.”

Central freshman goalie Alix Rudzinski, who has been starting in place of ill senior Kara Voisine, made eight saves on 13 shots, including two tough stops during a Stearns penalty corner in the first half.

“We’re very confident in her,” Trafton said of Rudzinski.

Rudzinski had a ball roll up into her pads late in the first half but the play was ruled unintentional so the Minutemen were not awarded a penalty stroke.

Stearns starter Alyssa Beaulieu faced three shots and didn’t need to make a save, while Sheridan had one save against five shots.

JV: 0-0