YARMOUTH — Brittany Ross wanted to cry but screamed instead, dropping her stick to grab whichever Scarborough teammate was closest. Turned out there were quite a few, with more coming by the second.

For the first time in nine years, a team other than Skowhegan won the state Class A field hockey championship. Scarborough ended the astonishing streak in overtime when Ellie Morin deflected a shot past the goaltender for the 2-1 victory.

Scarborough sticks dropped and protective goggles flew skyward. A few yards away, Skowhegan players stood or slumped over, frozen in place. The Maine Principals' Association prefers to call these overtime endings sudden victory rather than sudden death. It was both.

"There were so many emotions running through my head," said Ross, the Red Storm's lightning rod. "I didn't know what to think."

The pace was furious. The play was aggressive and smart. The stakes were enormous.

Skowhegan had been on the mountaintop for so long, and Scarborough wanted to be the team to take the champs down. Ross and her teammates tried last year and failed.

"There's no greater feeling," said Ross of beating the champs. She walked into a Scarborough supermarket Friday night, wearing her field hockey jacket. She walked out with words of encouragement from strangers. The attention was surprising and gratifying.

Field hockey tends to take a back seat to other sports, but not where it's played well.

After the initial celebrating, both teams gathered in the front of the grandstand for team trophies and individual medals. Becky Pratt, one of Skowhegan's senior forwards, watched the winners claim their spoils. Many of her teammates tried to watch, but couldn't. They turned to blink away tears.

"(Scarborough) worked hard to beat us," said Pratt. "They were aggressive and very quick. We didn't want to be the team that ended the streak, but they earned (the championship)."

Eight years seems like an eternity when you're a high school senior. It's difficult to remember when Skowhegan didn't win its final game and walk off the field with heads in the clouds. It's difficult to remember when Skowhegan wasn't marked as the team to beat.

"I know we intimidated other teams because we were Skowhegan," said Erin Sevey, one year removed from Coach Paula Doughty's teams. Sevey came to Saturday's game with Holly Vanidestine, another alum. To cheer, to share in the victory, or the defeat.

Eight years of being the last team standing. Eight years of triumph. Eight years of grumblings from opponents and their fans that Skowhegan had lived in the penthouse for too long.

"Everybody hates you," said Margaret Veazie. Her Dexter teams won four straight Class C titles at the turn of the century. Saturday, Dexter beat North Yarmouth Academy 1-0 for another championship. In the grandstand, a white sheet appeared with the words: "It's magic."

The banner was an answer to Penobscot Valley Conference schools ignoring Dexter in voting for postseason awards. Well, then, how did Dexter reach the state finals? It's magic.

Veazie laughed. Maybe there's not enough love. Respect will do.

Scarborough won respect by beating Skowhegan. In turn, Skowhegan kept its respect by playing to win.

No one cued up Queen's "We are the champions" for the loudspeakers as Scarborough walked to its buses. Instead, some of the Red Storm players started to sing the words on their own. Teammates joined in.

It was a soft, a cappella rendition. It was perfect.

Staff Writer Steve Solloway can be contacted at 791-6412 or at:

ssolloway@pressherald.com