Regardless of whether it was by default or not, the Salisbury field hockey team was playing in its first district playoff game last week since the team’s current head coach did it roughly a decade ago.

Despite playing one of the best teams in the Colonial League in that district semifinal game, Salisbury showed it was up for the challenge early on. A 2-1 Bangor lead at halftime certainly impressed Falcon head coach Meredith Makhoul in her first time back on the district stage, but the Slaters used a strong second half to secure the 9-1 victory.

Salisbury’s season officially came to an end at 2-15-1, while Bangor (16-2) advanced to the District 11 Class 2A championship against Southern Lehigh on Wednesday.

“The day before districts we went into the high school’s old gym, and I had the girls look around at the banners,” Makhoul said. “The one thing missing was a field hockey banner. I think that is when it clicked for all of us how important this game was. We were given the opportunity to do something not many field hockey teams in Salisbury history have been able to do. Of course we wish we could have gotten there differently, but we got there and that is what we were focused on.”

Katie Rutt’s goal in the first half, coming on an assist by Madison Jewell, had Salisbury on the verge of an upset as it trailed just 2-1 after 30 minutes. The defense had kept Bangor’s offense in check after the two teams squared off in the last week of the regular season when the Slaters came away with the 7-1 victory.

The second half, however, was more like the Slaters team Salisbury saw back on October 10. Cheyenne Ott scored three of those seven second-half goals to help Bangor pull away and force a championship match up against the same team that defeated the Slaters in the league playoffs.

“We came out against Bangor at districts and held them 2-1 in the first half,” Makhoul said. “The girls played an indescribable first half, showing the world we have talent and we can do things as long as we work together. Of course, we still have work to do and we always will. But if we can focus on the positive of the season and continue to grow, we will do great things.”

With arguably its strongest half of play coming in its most important game of the season, Salisbury is hoping to build off that with next year’s squad. That will be months down the road, but many of these girls are expected back when 2017 eventually comes around.

“We hope to have a large number of returning players,” Makhoul said. “Each one of these girls possesses a special talent that makes this team. The numbers may not have shown it, but each of them showed a lot of improvement this year. It does become difficult when you have the record we had this season and when teams beat you, but I think we need to keep focus on the amazing things that happened this season.”

Ronya Nameh and Jessette Long are the only seniors that Salisbury will graduate from this team. The rest of the team returns and is hoping to get back to the district stage a year from now, with the circumstances slightly different this time around.

“We had very humble and motivating seniors,” Makhoul said. “They both had such positive attitudes, and they have both been such a joy to practice. From my own personal experience, I know the challenges of leading a team with two seniors. It can be challenging at times, but they did what they needed to do.

“The girls were pumped from the second I walked on the bus [to go to the district game]. The music was playing and the girls were ready to go. Really, I can’t even describe it. But I do know that I hope we get to experience the feeling again, but [next] time we [want to] get there with an amazing record.”