Playoffs get underway in Aroostook County

By Meridith Paterson
Staff Writer

The Tigers moved to quarterfinals after defeating Highview Christian 6-0 in Tuesday’s preliminary. Fort Fairfield pelted the defense with 40 shots, proving their number-four Heal Point ranking over Highview’s 13. Josh Churchill angled in two points and made one assist. Josh Booth also found a gap past the Highview keeper. Ryan Noyes and Pat Kinsey tallied a point each to the board. Noyes and Brendan Doughty also made passes that led to goals. Tiger keeper Austin Dufour rejected the single kick toward his net.

    In Friday’s playoff Fort Fairfield played into double overtime to defeat Woodland, 2-1. Josh Booth plowed into a ball that had glanced off the Woodland crossbar in the second overtime period for the winning score. Booth also made the earlier tying point with 15 minutes remaining in regular time.
   The Tiger and Woodland defense kept the scores low, but Fort Fairfield pulled their number-four rank over the fifth-seeded Woodland team. Dufour stopped seven of 11 shots.
   Fort Fairfield went on to play Ashland on Tuesday in semifinals; scores were not reported at press-time.
   The Lady Tigers shut out Wisdom, 3-0, keeping the play on the green side of the pitch in last Wednesday’s preliminary. Brooke Beaulieu angled in the first half score, and teammate Rose-Mary Williams had two second-half scores. Fort Fairfield keepers Kristen Hebert and Paige Beaulieu didn’t need to deflect any shots.
   However, the Washburn Beavers ended Fort Fairfield’s playoff run on Saturday, 2-1. Lady Beaver Lindsey Blackstone scored both Washburn points to put them through to Wednesday’s semifinal.
   “It was a really good game; both teams played aggressive.” Coach Ron Ericson described a game where both teams applied their best soccer abilities to push through the playoffs. “There wasn’t a lot of shots … There was a lot of action. It was hard fought.”
   “It just didn’t fall on our end,” commented Tiger coach Kerrie Alley. She will lose five seniors including one of her leaders, Maryl Shaw. “Shaw has dedicated four years to the program. She’s an outstanding defensive player who will hopefully play for a small college one day.”
   Washburn will compete in a semifinal game against number-two Bangor Christian today.
Ashland claims home victories
   Orange and black clad fans lined the Hornet soccer field in Friday’s quarter-final against Katahdin to rally the boys to a 4-3 win.
   “We were very appreciative to our fans during the game,” commented coach Kevin Paradis. “Their chanting helped increase our determination and energy level. Their support definitely affected the game.”
   Number-one Ashland met against number-three Katahdin for the third time this season. The Hornets finished the first 20 minutes, three points behind Katahdin all scored by Cougar Marshall Davis. However, Tyler Cote had a successful penalty kick that led the Hornets onto the board. In the second, Carl Nemer closed in on Katahdin when he scored off a pass from Jacob Paradis. Nick Gimble tied the score assisted by Kenny Tarr. Tarr toppled the Cougars with 1:48 left on the clock when he blasted his penalty kick into the green net.
   Lucas Belanger saved three of seven shots for Ashland.
   “I believe our come-from-behind win will be a great lesson for us,” said Paradis. “My guys now know that they are never out of it. We also learned that we should never dig ourselves a hole to climb out of.”
   Nemer’s goal tied the career goal record, which he may break if the boys continue into playoffs. The Hornets faced Fort Fairfield on Tuesday; no scores were reported at press-time.
   Ashland supporters re-emerged Saturday afternoon to watch the Lady Hornets blank Southern Aroostook, 4-0. Southern Aroostook’s defense couldn’t stand up to the duo of Jacky Raymond and Whitney Flint. Raymond had three goals all off passes from Flint. Flint also netted a point assisted by Macie Pelkey. Ashland keeper Taylor Baker blocked seven shots.
   The orange players will test their skills against Katahdin today in a semifinals.
Presque Isle continues to semifinals
   Wildcat keeper Dillon Kingsbury tallied another shutout to his record with a 2-0 defeat of Central in Friday’s quarterfinal match. Russ Mortland and Steve Carmichael led scoring, assisted by Scott Wilson and Ethan Hill. The ‘Cats went on to play Ellsworth in Tuesday’s semifinal; no scores were reported at presstime.
   The PIHS girls varsity proved they’ve recovered from a list of injuries, defeating Ellsworth 4-1 in Saturday’s quarterfinal at the Johnson Athletic Complex. Sarah Porter slid in two goals, and tallied an assist to her stats. Kayla Legassie and Brittany Bearden each found a gap in the Eagle defense. PIHS keeper Alisen Donovan rejected nine of 13 shots.
   “We matched their intensity and physical play,” said coach Ralph Michaud.
   The girls meet undefeated John Bapst for the third time this season in semifinal competition today.
Easton falls to Machias
   The Easton boys dribbled past Deer Isle in their Tuesday preliminary match, 1-0. For 60 minutes the game went scoreless, until Bear Corey White made a kick past the Mariner keeper, Eben Powers. Holden Turner had the assist. Goalie Jeremy Brock led defense with 21 saves.
   However, their season ended at the quarterfinals on Friday to Machias, 1-0. Easton’s Brock blocked 13 of 18 shots, but let one pass from Jacob Steven late in the second half.
   Coach Greg Miller feels the boys had a successful season. Even though they had lost three key players to injuries, they held off number-two Machias into the second half.
   The Bears finish their season 11-5, the first Easton team in at least 20 years to win a playoff match.
Central Aroostook finishes
   Central Aroostook playoff hopes ended for both the boys and girls in preliminary matches.
   The boys’ season ended with 6-2 on the board in their match against Katahdin. Emanuel Martinez and Zac Amnott led the offense with a goal each for the Panthers, and keeper Tyler Rusby blocked seven of 17 shots, but the Cougars pulled through to quarterfinals.
   Central Aroostook graduates four seniors from their boy’s team this year. “We’re going to miss Travis McDonald for his scoring ability and speed,” noted coach Wallace Endy. “Ryan Kilcollins will be missed on defense.”
   On Wednesday, Southern Aroostook kept up the offensive pressure with 36 shots to move through to quarterfinals, 7-1. The game remained tied at the half, with the Panther goal by Alex Dame. However, Southern Aroostook took the lead despite 19 saves by Mars Hill keeper Robyn Graham.
All-star teams selected
   The Maine Soccer Coaches have selected the 2007 regional all-star soccer teams.
   Presque Isle’s Russ Mortland and Scott Wilson will join the Eastern Maine Class B team. Ashland’s Carl Nemer and Tyler Cote made the Class D team.
   Wildcats Kayla Legassie and Sarah Porter were selected for the Eastern Maine Class B team for the girls. Several Aroostook county high school girls made the Eastern Maine Class D team including Ashland’s Whitney Flint, Mindy Chasse and Jacky Raymond; Fort Fairfield’s Maryl Shaw and Washburn’s Kristin Goupille and Alex Bird.