The Dexter High School field hockey team suffered through a rare experience last year.
The Tigers were ousted from the Eastern Maine Class C quarterfinals by Mount View of Thorndike after finishing the regular season at 10-3-1, fifth in the Heal Point standings.
“We’ve lost in the semifinals, Eastern Maine finals and state championship game before but I can’t ever remember losing in the quarterfinals,” said co-coach Margaret Veazie, who returned last season after a two-year hiatus.
It wasn’t acceptable by Dexter’s lofty standards. From 1998 to 2010, Dexter captured seven EM titles and six state crowns.
But the Tigers used last year’s disappointment as incentive and they have bolted to a 5-0 start, including an eye-opening 4-0 road win over defending state Class C champion Foxcroft Academy.
“That win over Foxcroft has given them confidence,” said Veazie.
“That was a lot of fun. We really needed that. It gives us even more motivation to play better,” said senior center midfielder Peyton Watson.
They have outscored their opponents 23-2.
“Last year was embarrassing,” said senior back Marissa Mitchell. “It was a really big disappointment for us.”
Mitchell said their start has shown that “we are determined to go out and play like the Dexter field hockey program everybody knows.”
“Last year was a motivator for us,” agreed Watson. “We told each other we weren’t going to let that happen again.”
Veazie said the resurgence began in the offseason.
“The girls became committed to getting better,” said Veazie. “They lifted weights all year and played in indoor leagues in the winter and outdoor leagues in the summer.
“They came into the preseason in shape. They weren’t in shape last year,” pointed out Veazie.
“We worked 100 times harder in the offseason,” said Watson.
Senior midfielder Justice Mower noted that they didn’t have a workout regimen in the offseason a year ago because sisters Kylie Damon and Whitney Damon, who had coached in 2012, didn’t return.
Veazie and Nicci Burton eventually were chosen as co-coaches and they gave them direction.
“They’re awesome coaches,” said Mower.
Watson has been a catalyst for the Tigers after being moved from forward to center midfield.
Veazie said the talented Watson would dribble through people but it wouldn’t necessarily result in a scoring chance because she wouldn’t finish the play off.
“But she has learned how to create chances not only for herself but for her teammates,” said Veazie. “She has been a great player.”
Veazie estimates Watson has five goals and a handful of assists.
Junior center-forward Katie Batron leads the Tigers with nine goals and is healthy this year after missing 10 games due to injury last fall.
Speedy Abbey Webber has been a prolific assist provider and Veazie and Burton have taken junior Kolby Kain out of goal and moved her to a wing to capitalize on her athleticism and quickness. Junior Kaitlyn Paquin has inherited the goalkeeping job from Kain.
Mower, Watson and junior Emily Watson (no relation to Peyton) headline a top-notch midfield with sophomore Grace Belanger and junior Kate Hall supplying quality depth.
The back line includes Mitchell, juniors Cassidy Brown and Christie Nicholas, and senior Morgann Gray, a transfer from Piscataquis Community High School of Guilford.
Gray is enjoying her new venue.
“I was nervous at first but everyone has been so friendly. It has been awesome on and off the field,” said Gray.
Veazie said the Tigers have a lot of depth and Watson said the team chemistry has been yet another plus.
“We have really come together since last year. We play as a team, not as individuals,” said Watson, who added that the goal is another state championship banner.