BY MATT SCHOOLEY

The scoreboard at Bedford High School noted the Bulldogs lost to Laconia, 6-0. But you wouldn’t know it by the attitude of the Bedford field hockey players leaving the turf field.

Bedford’s group of freshmen and sophomores treks through the 2007 campaign gaining experience and setting themselves up for a bright future, according to head coach Jenn Durgin.

“These girls just have a ton of enthusiasm for the game. They come excited to every practice or game,” she said after the contest on Friday, Aug. 31. “They know we are probably going to have a building year, but they have such a positive attitude, and we have great leadership, which is hard to do with a young team.”

The Bulldogs trailed, 5-0, at halftime but were able to shut down the Laconia offense for most of the second half behind freshman goalkeeper Ashley Donahue.

Despite allowing six goals, Donahue’s effort in net was impressive. Other than playing in goal a few games in middle school, Donahue had only practiced in pads for a few days before the contest.

Hailey Brennan played solid defense for Bedford, though she and her mates couldn’t stop Megan Bird,
who provided most of the Laconia offense with four goals.

Bedford’s enthusiasm comes from the , as Durgin jumped up and down the sidelines, trying to will the program’s first-ever goal into the net midway through the second half; Bedford had multiple chances to knock one in.

“I was just feeling excitement for them. All they need to do is get the first one to go in, and they will fall easier,” she said. “I know they can get one soon. They just need that last little push to get it in.”

Durgin also said the experience her young team gains should translate to successful teams in 2008 and ’09 as her players become juniors and seniors.

“Every game they are playing against juniors and seniors – and even though it will be a little tough this year – … is going to be so important down the road, to see this team in a few years,” she said. “They were anxious early on and playing kind of frantic. They just need to be able to settle down and get their composure.”