She has taken a ton of abuse, hard hits and
insults over the past three seasons, but Mt.
Blue High School senior Carlah Robbins says
it's all worth it because she enjoys playing
lacrosse as a member of the Cougars boys
team. A starter on the Cougars girls
soccer team as a midfielder and the starting
point guard on the basketball team this winter,
Robbins totally understands hard-nosed
competition. As a junior varsity player last
season, Robbins didn't mind the hits she took
as long as she had the chance to return the
favor.
"Last year, I got hit sometimes and
there would be people yelling on the sidelines
for players to hit me hard," she said. "It was
OK when it was part of the game, besides we
have some guys on our team that are very
protective."
Now in her final season, she
has moved up to the varsity where she
contributes and is gaining minutes every
match.
"I really appreciate what she has
done on the field for us," Mt. Blue coach Mark
Cyr said. "She has not been afraid to hit
anyone and has been learning the game and
showing improvement."
Several years
ago, Cyr had another girl play on the Cougar
boys team but she did not make it to the
varsity level like Robbins has.
"She is the
first girl to make it to this level at our school,"
he said. "She has done very well."
Robbins recalls the moment the thought
of playing lacrosse came into her mind.
"We were sitting in geometry class, my
sophomore year," she said. "A couple of the
guys talked me into playing. That afternoon,
they took me out to buy a stick. I have enjoyed
every minute of it."
"I really just like playing
because the people on the team want to be
here," she added. "I feel they have accepted
me as a player and that makes me feel good."
n n n
Gardiner's Kolby Peckham
realizes the importance of shooting practice.
Extra practice gives the attacker the edge
when they can find the slightest opening to
squeeze off a shot.
"I practice shooting all
the time," said Peckham, after scoring five
goals from long range against Mt. Blue on
Saturday. "I enjoy it, but it is something I do as
much as I can."
A number of attackers in
central Maine are having quality seasons. At
Messalonskee, Ted Fabian and Mitch Beck
are keeping the Eagles attack in high gear,
netting 23 and 18 goals, respectively.
Mt.
Blue's trio of Zach Frechette (15), Evan
Xanthos (13) and Nate Pickrell (11) have
helped keep the Cougars attack on track.
Wiscasset's Caleb Jones had four goals last
week versus Mtn. Valley and has been
averaging nearly two a game this season.
Rivaling Peckham's recent goal surge has
been Oak Hill's Casey Behne, who notched
six against the Tigers last week. Cony's Dillon
Shaw and Chris Gay have shown the ability to
find the back of the net in most games as well.
n n n
Games to watch
4 p.m.,
Wednesday,
Messalonskee (6-2)
at
Gardiner (1-6)
Record-wise this game
appears to be a mismatch and could end up
an Eagle runaway. The Tigers, however, have
played some very tight matches and are just
tapping their potential. Gardiner's Kolby
Peckham is a dangerous scorer, but the
Tigers need another player to step up on the
attack. Messalonskee will counter with Ted
Fabian and Mitch Beck. If either are slowed by
the Gardiner defense, the Tigers could pull off
the upset.
11 a.m., Saturday, Brunswick
(7-0) at Messalonskee (6-2)
A lot will be
riding on this game for Messalonskee. If the
Eagles have a good week, they certainly could
give the Dragons all they can handle.
Messalonskee will need a big game from its
defense to stop Brunswick's quick
counterattacking transition game.
MAINEJOBS
