YARMOUTH—In 2013, the Yarmouth field hockey team was a feel-good story, producing its best season in 13 years.

This fall, the Clippers might be even better.

Monday afternoon, Yarmouth continued its strong early season play as its balanced attack spelled another easy victory.

Five days after rolling at Old Orchard Beach, the Clippers hosted Waynflete, in the Flyers’ opener, and didn’t take long to seize control.

Just four minutes, 36 seconds in, senior standout Kallie Hutchinson scored and opened the floodgates. A little over a minute later, senior Fiona Clarke struck. After sophomore Abby McDowell extended the lead to 3-0, freshman Emilie Martin scored her first varsity goal, then tacked on another for a 5-0 halftime advantage.

Sophomore Taylor Robison and junior Bre Morrill rattled the cage in the second half and the Clippers went on to a most impressive 7-0 victory, improving to 2-0 with some bigger tests on the horizon.

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“We have a young team,  but we’re connecting and everything’s worked out great so far,” said Morrill,, who was a force from end line to end line. “We just want to come out and attack teams.”

The year after

Yarmouth stole headlines last fall, posting its best record since 2000 and reaching the Western C semifinals before losing to crosstown rival North Yarmouth Academy, 2-0, to finish 10-5-1.

Even though the Clippers graduated many starters from that squad, they did return their share of standouts and as a result, can’t sneak up on anyone this fall.

Yarmouth had no trouble in its opener, cruising to a 7-0 victory at Old Orchard Beach last Wednesday, as four different players scored.

Waynflete, meanwhile, which went 0-12-1 last fall, was taking the field for a countable game for the first time.

Last fall, the Clippers easily dispatched the Flyers twice, 6-0 in Portland, then 4-0 in Yarmouth.

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Monday, the Clippers did it again in a total team effort.

Waynflete actually controlled possession the first couple minutes, but thanks in large part to strong defensive play from Yarmouth senior Meaghan Gorman and junior Samantha Middleton, couldn’t register a shot on goal and the hosts eventually transitioned to offense.

After the Clippers’ first good bid, a blast by Morrill off a penalty corner, was turned aside by Flyers sophomore goalie Kiera MacWhinnie, Hutchinson got to the rebound and sent a shot on goal. The ball was deflected up high and got past MacWhinnie for a 1-0 lead.

The second goal came off some nice passing in the circle, as McDowell passed to Clark, who finished.

With 16:38 remaining in the half, McDowell finished, from Hutchinson, and it was 3-0.

Yarmouth’s passing has made it almost impossible to stop in the early going.

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“It’s awesome driving the ball into the circle and knowing someone will be there to tip it,” Morrill said. “It’s amazing to be able to trust my teammates like that.”

“We’re really excited to see the opportunities we’re creating inside the circle,” said Clippers coach Mandy Lewis. “It’s good to see that the girls are all hungry and have their sticks down in the circle. I think that we have some very talented midfidlers delivering the ball and our offense starts with our back line. I think Bre and Kallie working together on midfield, their intensity and communication, really feeds our offense.”

Then, it was Martin’s turn.

The freshman’s first varsity goal came with 3:42 to go in the half, as she finished with sophomore Molly Wilson getting the assist.

“It’s so amazing to get a goal in my first varsity field hockey game,” said Martin. “I thought it was pretty cool because I love field hockey so much. It felt good.”

The tandem struck again with just 31.7 seconds remaining and the hosts enjoyed a commanding 5-0 lead.

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“Molly crossed the ball and I tipped it in,” said Martin. “It felt so good to get a second goal. I was just so happy.”

Martin is listed as a swing player, but has clearly made an impact on the varsity team (she also had an assist in the opener).

“I was little bummed when I found out I made JV and not varsity, but then I found out I was going to swing,” said Martin. “Everybody is just really, really supportive and nice. Kallie is so amazing. Right from the start, she was so supportive. We have a lot of team pep talks and they’re so kind. Nobody puts you down.”

“We’ve seen a lot of good stuff from (Emilie),” Lewis said. “She’s done some great stuff for us on the right wing. We had (sophomore) Taylor Robison there. Being a freshman, she comes in with solid fundamentals. Stick ready to go.”

In the first 30 minutes, Yarmouth enjoyed an 11-0 shots advantage. Six MacWhinnie saves kept the score from getting even further out of hand.

Just 2:29 into the second half, the Clippers scored again, as a shot from sophomore Chloe Noack was tipped home by Robison.

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Morrill was rewarded for her superb all-around play with an unassisted goal with 3:08 to go.

“It was nice to score,” said Morrill. “I hadn’t in awhile. Hearing that noise and knowing I hit it felt nice. Last year, I was a quiet underclassmen. I played a lot of field hockey in the offseason and I’m taking more of a leadership role. I know I have to step up this year.”

Yarmouth then ran out on the clock on its 7-0 win.

“In every game, we have to make sure we push ourselves to go beyond what we’re comfortable with because you never know what anyone will bring on any given day,” Lewis said.

The Clippers ended up with a 19-1 shots advantage and had a 10-1 edge in corners. MacWhinnie made 12 saves for the Flyers, while junior Tori Messina made one save for the hosts.

Waynflete was hindered by rust.

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“We don’t have turf and we’ve had no practice the past week because of (the school’s) Outdoor Experience,” said Flyers coach Kelly Hoffman. “I had them for two-and-a-half weeks, then didn’t have them at all for a week. I thought there were times when we did well.

Measuring stick

Waynflete hopes to bounce back and win its first game since the 2012 campaign when Sacopee pays a visit Thursday. The Flyers host Traip Saturday.

“I definitely think we have a lot of potential,” Hoffman said. “We just need to keep practicing together to ensure we get into a groove and a flow.”

Yarmouth, meanwhile, goes to Sacopee Wednesday, then will get a true barometer of just how good it is when it gets another crack at a visiting NYA squad which beat the Clippers in all three meetings a year ago.

“I think we could go really far because we’re a strong team,” Martin said.

“I’m very excited to see NYA,” Morrill said. “My first goal for us this year is to beat NYA. I think we’ll be just as good as last year, if not better.”

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“(NYA’s) in our thinking, but it’s a three-game week and we have to take on Sacopee first,” Lewis said. “With the momentum we’ve had, I think we’re ready.”

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.

Yarmouth freshman Emilie Martin tries to get past Waynflete senior Gavriella King.

Yarmouth senior Kallie Hutchinson winds up for one of her patented rockets.

Yarmouth sophomore Gracie Griffin is chased by Waynflete sophomore Randall Seder.

Yarmouth junior Bre Morrill, who was stellar all over the field, tries to get past Waynflete senior Allison Mills.

Waynflete senior Madison Pellow fights Yarmouth sophomore Abby McDowell for possession of the ball.

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Waynflete senior Allison Mills tries to prevent Yarmouth junior Bre Morrill from gaining possession.

Yarmouth junior Cara Ricciardi brings the ball up the field.

Waynflete senior Chloe Williams tries to hold Yarmouth senior Kallie Hutchinson in check.

Sidebar Elements


Yarmouth freshman Emilie Martin carries the ball back to the circle after scoring one of her two goals during the Clippers’ 7-0 home win over Waynflete Monday afternoon.

Mike Strout photos.

More photos below.


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