12/03/2008
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Staff photo by Joe Phelanfrom the Kennebec Journal
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You'll notice a few things when you watch Cony senior Kayla Belanger play field hockey. To her coach, it's Belanger's attitude that stands out the most.
"She steps out onto that field a fierce competitor," Cony coach Krista Chase said. "She demands excellence, mostly from herself, but from her teammates."
Belanger's fire and skills helped carry the Rams when they lost playmaker Kristen Felt to injury early in the season. Officially a center back but playing all over the field, Belanger finished with three goals, 13 assists and nine defensive saves.
For her outstanding season, Belanger is the choice as the Kennebec Journal Field Hockey Player of the Year. Gardiner forward Hailey Chadbourne was also considered.
Belanger doesn't deny Chase's assessment of her approach to the game -- or any competition, for that matter.
"I'm very intense," Belanger said. "Once I step on the field, you probably couldn't tell if we were winning or losing. I just try to keep a straight face and play as hard as I can. I don't like to lose in anything -- cards with friends, computer games. I don't really like losing."
Another thing that people would notice quickly about Belanger is the power on her drive. Even accomplished field hockey players sometimes have trouble with free hits, often because they look up to see where the ball is going and flub the hit. Belanger was able to consistently hit rocket after rocket.
"Just focusing for about two whole seconds," Belanger said. "It's a little thing that happens a lot in the game, but you've just got to focus when it comes to that one two-second hit."
When she wasn't taking free hits, Belanger was given license to roam anywhere on the field. Her nine defensive saves are believed to be a school single-season record, and Chase said about half of Belanger's assists came when she drove the ball into the circle.
When Cony had a penalty corner, Belanger was often a big part.
"I played behind our goalie a lot on defense and I went up on corners for offense," Belanger said. "I tried to be around where the ball was, usually. The team really adjusted well to where I went. I had a lot of faith in my team that they knew where I was."
Having played both offense and defense, Belanger can offer her thoughts on the question: Which is more fun -- scoring a goal, or preventing one?
"Well, everyone likes scoring goals. I love scoring goals," Belanger said.
"But it's a lot of fun to deny a team a goal. I mean, that's how (Skowhegan) won the state championship. Makayla Hancock stopped the defensive save.
"Those are awesome when you stop it, and you're not the goalie. Just pure hand-eye coordination and getting it out of the cage. That's a thrill."
Belanger wants to be a pharmacist, and her top college choice, the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Boston, does not have intercollegiate sports. She is leaving the option open to play field hockey at another school, and looks back with a smile on her field hockey career at Cony.
"We had a lot of good team camaraderie," Belanger said. "A lot of my high school memories and friends are from field hockey, so it's not too much of a negative experience if you come out of it with good friends and good memories."
Matt DiFilippo -- 861-9243
mdifilippo@centralmaine.com
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