East Lyme — It has become The Game in a league when many years passed without Stonington High School having much competition within the Eastern Connecticut Conference at all.

But now here is East Lyme, 13-3-3 a year ago and defenders of the outright conference field hockey title, a perch Stonington held for has what felt like several presidential administrations.

And the Vikings sent another message Saturday that despite a modified preseason, the ECC still belongs to them.

Nancy Alden's goal midway through the first half gave East Lyme a 1-0 win in the Vikes' season opener on the turf of Dick North Field. Stonington is 1-1.

"I was nervous to play the first game and I'm definitely always nervous against Stonington," East Lyme coach Kristy Behbehani said. "It's a huge win, especially when we don't know what the season holds. I'm really proud of my team. We fought the whole game. We were throwing people in different positions."

The Bears had some scoring chances late, but were denied by sophomore goalie Jaci Felix, who combined with junior Alison Martin on the shutout.

"Both of them did a really nice job," Behbehani said.

Stonington had something East Lyme didn't — at least one game of experience. It didn't help.

"Our hitting (of the ball) was nonexistent. Extremely frustrating," Stonington coach Jenna Tucchio said. "Our passing wasn't there. We struggled with procedural things. Basic stuff."

Which, she hopes, will come with more time on the field.

"We're playing in a game like this on day two of the season without the prep we need," Tucchio said. "We know we're expected to win. So when you take the unavailability of preparation, pressure of the game and the expectation to win, it all showed today."

Then Tucchio paused and said, "I'm trying to remember that even though we're on the second game of the season, we're only like four or five practices in to prepare for this. East Lyme obviously executed and was able to control a good part of the game — and with the same amount if prep time. They were able to execute and we didn't."

Behbehani was grateful for the opportunity to even play.

"I actually think the game was pretty seamless from the standpoint of all that's going on," she said. "We wore masks before the game and have them on now after. It was nice to play. It actually felt like a little bit of normal."

m.dimauro@theday.com