Hornets fall 3-1 in final
Staff Writer
Lucas Belanger preyed on the soccer ball in last Wednesday’s state final match against the Bobcats. Possessed with images of taking home the silver state championship ball to Ashland and holding back the Richmond advance, Belanger stalked the soccer ball. Despite 11 saves on 24 shots and the Hornet offensive effort, Ashland fell 3-1 to 15-1-1 Western Maine champions Richmond.
Staff photo/Meridith Paterson ASHLAND CAPTAIN Lucas Belanger made 11 saves on 24 shots in last Wednesday’s class D state final.
First-half action opened with midfield scuffles and players on both sides racing the ball up and down the Hampden Academy artificial turf. Ashland fans had an early injury scare when Belanger took a shoulder to the jaw and called the trainer onto the field.
“I’ve been kicked in the face before,” explained Belanger, “but this was really hard.”
With 29:18 on the clock, Bobcat Sam Carter found the right angle past Hornet offense to place Richmond on the scoreboard first. Ashland’s Jeremy Tarr attacked back for a tying goal at 18:39 off a corner kick by Tyler Cote. However, Richmond again found the gap in Ashland’s defense with a goal by Andy Harrington.
The white-clad Hornets scrambled to return to a tie-game before the half with fast-action in the maroon half of the field. With 1.1 seconds remaining Ashland faithful watched one of their players fall to the turf for a second time. Jeremy Tarr took a sideswipe that sent his mouth guard flying and body sprawling to the ground. For a few motionless moments on the field and in the stands, Tarr remained stationary but got up to shake off the hit and walk to his bench.
The Hornets retook the field with tripled effort in the second. Richmond tested Ashland’s endurance, sprinting for possession of the ball. More than once, Belanger raced 30 yards from the keeper box to pounce on the ball in one-on-one faceoffs with Bobcat offense.
“Belanger kept us in it,” commented coach Kevin Paradis after the match. “Especially late in the second when we were playing one man short. I didn’t have to tell him to do that … There’s not many people who can say ‘I played my best in my last game’ and he can do that.”
Belanger knew he had to actively control the Bobcat offense. “I wanted to get the ball and try to slow the guy down,” said senior captain Belanger.
The Bobcats made their last goal with 23 seconds remaining to clinch the title.
“I think it was the defense in the middle of the field that let us down,” noted Paradis. “Our secret is getting the ball to Nemer or Cote and we couldn’t get it to them. We tried a bunch of different changes but it didn’t work.”
Ashland also came up against a senior-laden starting Richmond lineup. The Bobcats had nine seniors to the Hornets’ four. “They are physically bigger and stronger because of that,” explained Paradis. What may have seemed like rough play fell within the bounds of soccer rules, but had the Hornets outmatched in close-contact maneuvers.
“We had already talked about the possibility of this loss,” said Paradis. “I tried to prepare them for it. I told them we’re going to handle this with class because I don’t think anybody expected us to get this far … they did tremendous.”
The Hornet seniors and their teammates ran their runner-up plaque across the field to show to the Ashland fans giving a standing ovation.
Paradis loses four seniors, including Belanger, but looks to bring up freshman Bobby Gardiner to the keeper slot. Gardiner practiced in the position last summer with the team. “He is fearless,” commented Paradis.
Paradis believes that the Hornets have replaced Van Buren as the team to beat in Eastern Maine Class D play, and hopes to return to the state final again next season.
Staff photo/Meridith Paterson FIGHTING FOR POSSESSION in last Wednesday’s state final match got physical. Pictured are Ashland’s Nick Gimbel blocking Richmond’s Brandon Lancaster.
Staff photo/Meridith Paterson DEDICATED ASHLAND FANS Hannah Stratton and Cassie Bolstridge fought off the cold with hot chocolate at the state final match in Hampden.
