BANGOR, Maine — Lexi Cunningham and Kahia Maheux have good reason to smile this fall.
The wins had been few and far between for the Bangor High School field hockey team during the seniors’ careers. The Rams went 0-14 a year ago.
On Thursday, Bangor pushed its 2017 record to 6-3 with a 2-1 win over Lewiston.
Cunningham and Maheux said they hadn’t won six games in their three previous seasons combined.
“It’s absolutely amazing. It has been so much fun this year, winning more games. It has been a lot different,” said fullback Cunningham.
“I’ve always loved our teams. Even when we weren’t winning, we were still a team and we were still sisters. But it feels amazing to win,” said goaltender Maheux. “We’re not the bottom of the food chain at the school any more and that feels good. We have worked so hard to get to this point.”
“It’s very exciting,” said seventh-year head coach Kasey (Spencer) Danforth, a former Old Town High School and University of Maine standout.
It has been a work in progress for Danforth and assistant Diann Ramsey.
“Four years ago, we began working with the (Bangor Recreation Department) as well as doing summer camps on our own,” explained Danforth. “We did strength and conditioning and skills training for six weeks before the preseason for kids in sixth grade up through high school.
“In winter, they’ve started to play indoors a little more and we’re getting younger kids with sticks in their hands,” added Danforth, who pointed out that girls can begin playing field hockey when they are 4 or 5 years old. “We’ve also gotten it in physical education classes.”
As a result, participation has increased.
There are 34 girls in the Bangor High School program, counting varsity and junior varsity. The numbers are also up at the middle school level.
More athletes have meant healthy competition for playing time.
“That has been a piece (to our success). Everybody had had to work really hard to earn a spot,” said Danforth.
It also means they are able to play full 11 vs. 11 JV games instead of 7 vs. 7 games. That gives more girls playing time.
Danforth noted that Bangor has more girls playing year-round for the Black Bear Elite club program under the direction and ownership of her former Old Town and UMaine teammate Shaunessy Saucier.
“That has been really helpful,” said Danforth.
The nice thing for Danforth and Ramsey is there are only four seniors on the roster. In addition to Cunningham and Maheux, Lily Waddell starts at back and Gina Vo is a reserve.
Maheux shares the goaltending with junior Sabrina Stern and they have combined to hold opponents to one goal or less in six of their nine games.
“We have two great goaltenders,” said Cunningham.
Danforth said the pair compete in practice for the next game’s start.
Another important ingredient in their turnaround has been the addition of John Bapst High of Bangor transfer Gabby Gonzales. The junior forward is one of the Rams’ leading scorers.
Gonzales stamped her arrival in dramatic fashion, scoring the overtime game-winner in the season-opening, 1-0 win over Camden Hills of Rockport.
“She is an amazing forward. She has helped us out so much. It’s scary when she takes shots at me,” said Maheux.
“They have all been so welcoming. It is a great team to be on,” said Gonzales. “It has been a whole new experience for me. And Coach (Danforth) has been awesome. She helps us so much. She really inspires us to play a great game.”
Gonzales and freshman forward Meaghan Caron, another of the team’s top scorers, work really well together, said Danforth of the speedy duo.
Sophomore Kaylee Perkins also plays up front.
Freshman Kate Ruhlin and sophomore Madison Arno are starting midfielders and sophomore Libby Colley and freshman Rebecca Kull join Waddell and Cunningham in the back.
Danforth said Bangor does a lot of team bonding and that her team always plays hard and stays engaged in the game until the final whistle. That includes the players on the sidelines.
“Even in the Mt. Blue game, no one ever gave up,” said Danforth, referring to a lopsided early-season loss to the Cougars from Farmington. “I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”
The wins have instilled more confidence in the players.
“We have our own personal goals for every game. We want intensity, we want to compete, connect, communicate and we want togetherness,” said Danforth.
The Rams have had a more favorable schedule than in recent years and Danforth knows her team is still a ways away from going head-to-head with juggernauts Skowhegan, Messalonskee of Oakland and Mt. Blue.
But they are definitely trending upward.
“There is a lot more work to do,” said the 33-year-old coach. “This is just the tip of the iceberg.”