LEWISTON — The Belfast field hockey team entered this season with a brand-new trophy already in their school’s case. From day one, the Lions set their sights on adding another.
“That was their goal all season, to be back here and to repeat,” coach Jan Jackson said. “We worked really hard for that as a team, and we did it.”
Jocelyn Valleau scored the game’s only goal off a corner in the third quarter, helping Belfast complete an undefeated season with a 1-0 victory over Freeport in the Class B final Saturday evening at Lewiston High School.
“It means so much to us. This team, specifically, because we’ve all been playing with each other since we were little,” said midfielder Halle Tarbox, the KVAC Class B Player of the Year and one of 12 seniors on the Lions’ roster (18-0). “It’s just really nice to share this incredible moment with them.”
The feeling of victory this year was more relaxed than last, when Belfast battled Yarmouth through overtimes and corners before prevailing.
“It’s much more ease-into-it,” Valleau said. “It feels much better than the stressful overtime.”
Freeport, which had 13 seniors on its roster, pressured early and late but couldn’t find the goal needed for a shot at a second state title in three years.
“We played our game. I’m super proud of them,” Freeport coach Marcia Wood said. “I know they’re hurting, but I just wanted to get to this game.”
Belfast had to overcome the graduation of Bre Shorey, who scored 44 goals last year and 128 for her career — third all-time in Maine history. But the veteran Lions continued their dominance, outscoring opponents 71-8 entering the final.
“I think some people thought, ‘I don’t know who’s going to put the goals in,’” Jackson said. “But I said, ‘They’re all going to. They’re all going to do it.’”
After a scoreless first half, someone stepped up on Saturday. On Belfast’s 10th corner, Valleau inserted the ball to Allison Friel, who passed it back down. Valleau then battled for the ball, evaded Freeport defensive ace Lizalyn Boudreau, and put a reverse shot into the goal for a 1-0 lead with 6:20 remaining in the third quarter.
“I’ve shot goals like that before in games,” Valleau said, “so I knew that if I was able to reverse it and just tip it in a little bit, I could get it in.”
Jackson praised Valleau’s skill set, noting she will play Division II field hockey at Franklin Pierce next year.
“She has amazing skills,” Jackson said. “She’s all field hockey, she’s amazing.”
Needing a goal, Freeport became more aggressive in the fourth quarter and controlled most of the period in Belfast’s end. Their best chance came with just over 11 minutes left, as shots from Emily Groves and Liza Flower were saved by Belfast’s Nikki Shorey, and Abby Cormier had a third shot go just off the side of the net.
It was the final game for Freeport’s senior core, which took the Falcons to three finals in four years.
“It put us on the map,” Wood said. “It got the love for the littles. We saw the youth kiddos in the stands today, and they get to see that and say, ‘I want to do that someday.’ We’ve built a good thing here.”
https://www.pressherald.com/2025/11/08/belfast-holds-off-freeport-to-defend-class-b-field-hockey-title/
