Sports Reporter
EASTON — The Easton Bears girls soccer team certainly faced some obstacles this fall, with just 14 players on the roster (including only one senior), a couple injuries that left an even shorter bench for several contests, and a schedule which had the team play all 14 of its regular season games in a period of 33 days.
Well, coach Rachel Tomlinson’s team more than overcame. The Bears thrived.
Easton went 9-4-1, is currently ranked second in Eastern Maine Class D and now eagerly await the post-season, which begins in a week and a half.
Easton was forced to play its entire regular season schedule in the period of a month, due to the harvest recess which began in mid-September, so Tomlinson stressed the importance of getting off to a good start to the season. The Bears did just that, and carried it through for the remainder of the season.
“I know this is the best record Easton has had in the past 12 years and I would like to think this is the best record in Easton soccer history for the girls,” Tomlinson said. “It has really come down to the girls believing in themselves. They are all very intelligent and athletic individuals, but they really haven’t had the chance to know what it feels like to win until this year.”
All the players have seen a great deal of time on the field, according to the coach. Goalie Taylor Burtt is the team’s only 12th-grader and has been a strong leader.
“She has been a standout. She is more aggressive and sees what is occurring on the field much better and is much more physical compared to last year,” Tomlinson said. “Her leadership and positive energy has really helped the team stay focused this season.”
Sophomore Ariana Babineau, an Aroostook League all-star last fall as a freshman, has been counted on as a scorer at the forward position and has delivered with 17 goals and nine assists.
Freshman Carla Halvorson has been a force in her first year of varsity soccer, scoring a whopping 29 goals to go along with five assists. “She is non-stop on the field and she has tremendous footwork for a freshman and sees the field well,” said her coach.
Freshman Kennedy Young is another starter up front.
Meghan Frank and Danielle Dudley, both sophomores, join junior Katie Cyr as others who have rotated on the front line. The midfield is controlled by a rotation including juniors Brooke Hammond and Brooke Lunney and freshman Mindy Desmond. The core defensive players are sophomores Sarah Plourde and Abby Poole and juniors Sydney Trask and Samantha Fuller.
Having not played a game since Sept. 16, and with the playoffs not due to begin until Oct. 23, staying sharp has been and will continue to be a challenge. With several players working during the harvest recess, Tomlinson said it was difficult to practice regularly.
There were a couple of indoor soccer nights in the school gym and a few outdoor practices in which lights had been hooked on the top of ladders and powered by generators for the individuals who had to work during the day.
“It was almost a scene out of the movies, but the girls loved every minute of it,” Tomlinson said.
As for a playoff run, Tomlinson is hopeful. “We were truly peaking at the end of our season, so I only hope they can take their skill level and confidence level into the playoffs.”
