Kiara Fournier of Edward Little High School competes for the ball with Anna Reny of Cony High School near the Cony goal during the second half in Auburn on Thursday. 

AUBURN — Edward Little field hockey coach Greg Perkins took the positive approach to a 2-0 loss to Cony on Thursday afternoon.

“I was really pleased we could actually take them out of their game as much as we did,” Perkins said. “The first time we played them, they did pretty much what they wanted when they wanted to do it.”

The two teams met in the season opener, which the Rams won 4-1 as they fired 37 shots on net while only allowing one.

Cony coach Holly Daigle knew it wasn’t going to be a repeat performance this time around.

“We wanted and needed to come here and get a win here today,” Daigle said. “It’s always a tough battle with Edward Little, they got girls that can carry the ball. They got girls that have really strong hits and they play a really intense game. We knew we have to be ready for them.”

The Red Eddies only allowed seven shots on goal this time around, while themselves getting six shots to the cage.

Cony was led by freshman midfielder Julia Reny, who had two goals in the first game and had both goals Thursday. She credited the playmakers to allow her to finish the chances she had.

“You always want to, as a (midfielder), a back or whoever is taking the hits, send (the ball) to open space,” Reny said. “It’s our job to be cutting on to it and making sure we are there.”

The Rams (3-4-1) didn’t show any bus legs after the 50-minute drive from Augusta to Sherwood Heights Elementary School: Reny found the back of the cage 3:48 into the game. It was Cony’s third shot of the game. The assist went to Danielle Brox.

“We obviously needed to keep the ball out of our cage, but we needed to put a couple in today,” Daigle said. “My forwards and our attack stepped up today and generated our offense game.”

The Rams controlled the play until midway through the first half, when Edward Little found its stride offensively. They were rewarded with four consecutive penalty corners, but couldn’t get a shot past senior goalie Jacqueline Carlton.

“We just didn’t hit the ball,” Perkins said. “We put the ball right where we wanted it, but I haven’t got a kid yet who has the nose for that goal and wants to step to balls and put them in. We certainly had a opportunity to that, we didn’t do it.”

The second half was more of the same, as Cony controlled the play to start. Reny struck again 7:30 minutes into the second half with Cari Hopkins picking up the assist.

Perkins said that he liked how the Eddies battled for all 60 minutes, but being an young team they are still learning when they play a veteran team.

EL had seven penalty corners, while Cony only had five.

Carlton made three saves for the shutout, while her counterpart, Elise Syphers, only made one save for the Red Eddies (3-5-0).

nfournier@sunjournal.com

Oceanna Chamberlain of Edward Little High School meets resistance while trying to shoot on Cony goalkeeper Jacqueline Carlton during the second half in Auburn on Thursday. 

Grace McBride of Edward Little High School sends the ball to the front of the net while being defended by Anna Reny of Cony during the second half in Auburn on Thursday. 

Emily Allen, right, of Edward Little High School maneuvers the ball around Anna Reny of Cony High School during the first half in Auburn on Thursday. 

Jordan Cummings of Edward Little High School feeds the ball to the center of the field during Thursday’s game against Cony.

Edward Little High School goalkeeper Elise Syphers blocks a shot by Julia Reny of Cony during the first half in Auburn on Thursday.