Staff Writer
Jon Hamilton has joined the Limestone/MSSM coaching ranks after spending six seasons at the helm of the Caribou JV boys soccer team.
EAGLE SOCCER TEAM – Members of the Limestone/MSSM boys varsity soccer team are, in front from left, Tyler Keiser, Noah Tounzen, Dylan Morgan, Cody Bryant, John Dickey, Zach Moreau and Chris Parent. Back row, coach Jon Hamilton, manager Kaitlyn O’Bar, Nate Berube, Chris Paradis, Parker Rossignol, Brandon Hopkins, Zach Cote, Ty Tracy, Barry King, manager Chelsea Leighton and assistant coach Ernie Smith. Absent when photo was taken were Caleb Davis, Dylan Stevens, Jordan Dolan and Peter Taddeo.
Hamilton’s Eagles have had a challenging season thus far, but the new coach said he has seen a great deal of improvement in his squad since practices begin in early-August.
“Our passing and touches on the ball have gotten much better,” Hamilton said, noting injuries have really affected the team throughout the year.
The starting lineup for the Eagles includes five seniors. Captain Parker Rossignol “gives 100 percent every time he steps on the field,” according to Hamilton. Caleb Davis is very aggressive and provides a strong offensive threat and Jordan Dolan, who joined the team at mid-season, is a playmaker on offense. Senior Chris Parent has a strong foot and great speed to go with it, while goalkeeper Brandon Hopkins has made excellent strides since the beginning of the season and his large wingspan and agility make him the right fit at the position.
Junior Dylan Morgan is one of the Eagles’ top scoring threats. Classmates Nate Berube and Zach Moreau are other starters, with Berube giving the team a lot of heart and Moreau making the adjustment into the sweeper position, which he has handled well so far, according to Hamilton.
John Dickey is a sophomore who has also shown a lot of improvement since day one, while the freshmen contributing right away as starters are Zach Cote, a solid defensive back, and Chris Paradis, who will become a steady offensive contributor as his career unfolds.
The substitutes on the squad are junior back Ty Tracy, junior Noah Tounzen, freshman Cody Bryant, who can play offense but is also the starting goalie; and seniors Barry King and Tyler Keiser.
“I just want to see the team continuing to show improvement,” Hamilton said of his goals for the remainder of the season.
The Eagles (3-7-1) displayed that improvement Friday when they knocked off the fourth-ranked Fort Fairfield Tigers, 2-1.
The victory elevated the team from 14th in last week’s Eastern Maine Class D Heal Point standings into the 10th slot this week.
Dolan scored the game-winner with less than five minutes to play in regulation.
Parent of Limestone/MSSM and Josh Booth of Fort Fairfield exchanged first-half goals.
Hopkins saved 16 of 32 shots in goal for the Eagles, while Fort’s Austin Dufour came up with six saves on 10 shots.
