Warrior teams look to get back into postseason

By Gloria Austin  
Staff Writer
    The Southern Aroostook varsity soccer teams are each hoping for a trip to the playoffs again this year.  The Lady Warriors are looking to defend their state championship.
CORRALS BALL  — Warrior Jillian Diaferio corrals the ball during a recent game. The Lady Warriors are looking to get back to the playoffs and hopefully put themselves into position for a title repeat.
    “There is certainly some pressure for a repeat season,” said girls coach Holly Vining, whose team returns eight seniors and all but two players from a year ago.
    Brittany Charette and Emma Senzek both graduated last June.
    “The biggest difference in the team this year from last year is the leadership that Emma and Brittany provided,” said Vining. “The girls miss that. But the seniors are stepping up and trying to fill the holes.”
    Charette and Senzek were the team’s biggest cheerleaders, according to Vining, and they each had their own way of keeping the team together and picking them up when they were down.
    With the odds stacked in their favor with such a veteran-laden team, Vining said the girls are not letting the pressure mount.
SAVE — Warrior goalie Jesse Boulier, left, makes a leaping save as Central Aroostook’s Garrett Stiles approaches in a recent game.
    “We are focusing on one game at a time,” she said. “There is definitely some stiff competition again this year.”
    But the Lady Warriors are undaunted by the opposition.
    “They thrive on competition,” Vining said. “It motivates them to work harder. They are focused and extremely determined, as well as excited about the season. Everyone wants to win, for the seniors more than anything.”
    Senior Rochelle Nadeau will replace Charette at striker, while adding to the offensive punch for the Lady Warriors are Liz Goodall, Janel Rockwell and Evangeline Goodall.
    “These girls add incredible speed and strength to our offensive line,” said Vining. “We should be every bit as strong as we were last year offensively.”
    With Nadeau moving from midfield, a spot was opened and Vining has three players competing for the starting role.
    “All three are very capable of doing a tremendous job, especially defensively,” said Vining.
    Kaitlyn Sommers, who trained all last season under Senzek, is ready to join Shelby Hartin and Lauren McGary in the backfield.
    “Our defense is solid,” said Vining. “We have Jasmine Rockwell and Cassie Garcelon who will be playing some tough ‘D’ at midfield, while supporting our full backs.”
    Emily Cummings returns to goal for her senior year.
    “She has impressed me so far,” explained Vining. “She is already playing more aggressively than she did last year.”
    Another attribute for the Lady Warriors is a deep bench, which Vining said would prove its value over the course of the season.
Warriors want another shot
    The Warriors would like another shot in the playoffs, said boys coach Cliff Urquhart.
    “I’m fortunate to have a bunch of great kids,” he said. “They want to learn and they are focused on winning soccer games. With the girls team winning the state championship last season, I think a little bit of that rubbed off on some of our boys. They see that it can be done. They want to do whatever they can to put themselves in a position to accomplish the same thing.”
    To do that, seniors Dakota Sleeper and Nick Tarr will head up a lineup of seven returning starters.
    “I think we are a balanced team,” said Urquhart. “We have decent athletes on both sides of the ball.”
    All-Aroostook players, Sleeper and sophomore Patrick Goodall will play center midfield and striker, respectively. Playing alongside them is junior striker David Dubois.
    “Those three work extremely well with one another,” Urquhart said.
    Other midfielders are junior Anthony Diaferio, who according to Urquhart, has shown tremendous athletic ability thus far, along with senior Nick Tarr and junior Jake Lassonde.
    Starting in goal is freshman Jesse Boulier.
    “Jesse is young and fairly new to the position, but he is improving every day,” Urquhart said. “His athleticism will benefit him. Another benefit is he is going to be surrounded by upper classmen. Three of our four backs are seniors and our sweeper is a junior. Having older guys around him will lessen the load he has to take in games.”
    Anchoring the defense are senior fullbacks Logan Desmond and Jesse Small, along with junior sweeper Cody Robinson and senior stopper Garry Sutherland. Other members looking to contribute to the team’s success will be sophomores Taylor Locke at midfield; Vance Gustin at fullback; Joe Frazier at fullback and Phil Harris; juniors Dylan Willette, striker; freshman Dylan Porter at midfield and senior Scott McDonald at midfield.