Getting there may be only half the job.
For four local field hockey teams, the work is just beginning.
For them, the Western Maine playoffs will get underway on four fronts, beginning today.
Thornton Academy, Kennebunk, and Massabesic all qualified for the Class A tournament, while Wells is making its second straight appearance in the Class B field.
All of them harbor championship hopes, although there is nothing easy about the road ahead.
The toughest trail is faced by No. 8 seed Massabesic, who will face Scarborough, the top seed and defending state champions.
The contest will be staged Wednesday (6 p.m.) on the turf at Kippy Mitchell Athletic Complex in Scarborough.
The Mustangs (9-6) enjoyed a seven win improvement over last season, including Saturday’s 2-1 preliminary round win over No. 9 Gorham.
Still, upsetting the Red Storm (13-1) will be a tall order, especially since they routed Massabesic 9-1 in their regular season meeting.
As Mustang coach Michele Martin-Moore sees it, her squad has nothing to lose and everything to gain. Including redemption.
“I asked the kids to write down what it would mean to beat Gorham,” she said. “One of them said, ‘so we can have a chance to show Scarborough we’re not the team they played the first time’.”
In Saco, No. 3 Thornton will host No. 6 South Portland, today (3 p.m.).
Thornton (10-3-1) won the regular season meeting, 4-2, back on Oct. 4.
Still, South Portland (8-6) handed Scarborough its only loss in two year, so the Red Riots will not be taken lightly.
The Trojans attack boasts high scoring forwards Katrina Thibodeau and Morgan Ouellette-Foss.
The tighest matchup of the bunch has No. 5 Kennebunk (10-3-1) visiting No. 4 Cheverus (10-4), Wednesday (3:30).
Cheverus thumped the Rams, 3-0 in the second game of the season.
However, Kennebunk has been on a hot streak, having won four straight and seven of its last eight.
“We’re hoping to continue the momentum,” said Rams coach Kayla Hinkley. “Play those 60 minutes, and finish it. We know Cheverus, and we’re going to build on that loss. We’re going to play on our strengths and build on our weaknesses for the best outcome we can.”
Another tight game could be in store when No. 4 Wells (9-5) hosts No. 5 Fryeburg Academy (11-3), Wednesday (4 p.m.).
The Warriors finished the season with three consecutive 1-0 contests ”“ winning two of them ”“ including an Oct. 5 shutout of Fryeburg.
“It was back and forth,” said Wells coach Kristin Williams. “I think we dominated in the second half. But it was a good game throughout. They go to the ball, hard. They think this is their year, so they’re going to come at us hard. We just have to come at them harder.”
— Contact Dan Hickling at dhickling@journaltribune.com.
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