Eagles gunning for playoffs despite 1-4-1 start

13 years ago

By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter

LIMESTONE — The Eagle boys soccer team took a 1-4-1 record into yesterday’s game at Van Buren, but fourth-year coach Jon Hamilton and members of his team are still gunning for a playoff spot in Eastern Maine Class D.

SP-washburneastonboys-dc2-arsh-37Aroostook Republican photo/Jon Gulliver
Cameron Bragg of Washburn and Cody Halvorson of Easton hustle to a loose ball during a match last Thursday in Washburn. Easton would go on to avenge its only loss the season by beating the Beavers 2-0.

Limestone-MSSM, whose lone win came against arch-rival Fort Fairfield in the regular-season opener Aug. 17, has improved from last season, when it won just twice with a team whose nucleus was made up of freshmen and sophomores. Those players are a year older and the experience has made a difference, according to the coach.

“Everyone is starting to know their role on the team and understand their teammates’ abilities,” said Hamilton, who prior to coming to Limestone served as the JV boys coach at his alma mater, Caribou High School.

“Our goal every year is to make it into the post-season and if we focus on one game at a time and continue to work hard, I believe we have a good chance to make the playoffs,” he added.

“We have the ability — we just need to put it all together.”

Defense, an area the team has struggled in early on this season, has been the major area of concentration during recent practices. Hamilton has implemented a change in formation to better fit his personnel. The Eagles now go with five on defense, including two stoppers, along with three midfielders and two forwards.

“With a strong core of veterans, the change has been smooth,” he said.

The Eagles feature a starting lineup that includes on the defensive end junior goalkeeper Bret Butler, who will also see time as a midfielder; junior captain and starting sweeper Brandon Thompson, junior right fullback Kevan Villareal, sophomore left fullback Chris Bernier and sophomore stoppers Caleb Brenneman and Curtis Pahel.

The midfield line is centered by Ben D’Haiti, a junior, and also is made up of sophomore Brandon Nadeau on the left and senior Nathan Faessler on the right.

The two strikers are sophomores Stephan Jackson and Tristan Kirk.

The Eagles have a pretty deep bench for a Class D team, with nine substitutes available. They include freshman Dylan Nadeau, who will see some time in goal, along with junior Christian Miles, sophomore Tristan Stack-Grouse, sophomore Eric Tilmont, sophomore Tyler Morgan, freshman Randy Caldwell, senior captain Zach Cote, sophomore Shawn Gagnon and freshman goalie/midfielder Patrick Massaad.

Both Tilmont and Cote are recovering from injuries and hope to be at full strength by season’s end.

The Eagles have four more games this month, with Madawaska coming to Limestone Thursday to begin the stretch. The team is off from Sept. 27 until Oct. 11, when it resumes its post-harvest recess schedule with three more contests to close out regular-season play.