Gold ball not to be for Shires

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Hopes of making history by bringing home the first gold soccer ball in the program’s existence were dashed for the Houlton boys soccer team Saturday.
    But while they may not have come away with a state title, the Shires sent a message to the rest of the state that Houlton was a team to be reckoned with as they pushed Waynflete Academy to double overtime before falling 2-1.
    Houlton should be poised to make another strong push for a state title next year as the Shires have just four seniors on the squad, and will return their top scoring threat and goalie next year. Waynflete finishes 14-1-3 overall, while Houlton ends with a 14-3-1 record.
Pioneer Times photograph/Joseph Cyr
CLEARS — Houlton’s Kyle Bouchard, left, and Ethan Morse, No. 15, clear the ball against Waynflete Academy.
    All game long, the Shires played with tremendous amount of tenacity and heart.
    “This is the same hard effort we have given all year long,” said Houlton coach Mike Carlos. “Our kids have always given an extraordinary effort. This was a whale of a game that was lost on one play. That one play could have gone either way.”
    Seniors on the Shire squad include Jordan Russell, Ian Bauersfeld, Cody Woods and Lucas Anderson.
    Houlton’s Kole Buzzeo had a marvelous game stopping 12 of 14 shots. Many of those shots came towards the end of regulation as Waynflete put on a strong push to end the game. That trend continued into overtime, but time and time again, Buzzeo rose to the challenge making many remarkable saves.
    “Some of the saves Kole made tonight were incredible,” Buzzeo said. “He would come out of nowhere and make a save. He kept us in this game and we let him down.”
    Neither team was able to dent the net in the first half, as the backfield for both teams did an exceptional job of clearing the ball before a quality shot could be had.
    Waynflete struck quickly to start the second half as Kevin Kanakan one-touched a ball that deflected off a Houlton defender just over a minute into the half. Houlton wasted little time getting that goal back as Jimmy Fitzpatrick scored an unassisted goal less than a minute later to tie it 1-1.
    William Cleaves produced the game-winner 3:00 into the second overtime period on a crossing shot to the opposite corner of the net, away from Buzzeo.
    Coming into the game, coach Carlos said his team had plenty of motivation for the game as Waynflete was heavily favored to win by a lop-sided score.
    “Everyone counted us out before the game was even played,” Carlos said. “We really stepped up and played extremely hard. The kids really wanted it tonight, it just didn’t fall our way.”
    Playing on the artificial turf of Hampden Academy was a new experience for the Shires. The team did not have a single game on turf this season, but did go to Presque Isle for a practice session Thursday so they would have an idea of how the ball would bounce and roll differently.
    Carlos is one of just six coaches in the history of Houlton boys soccer. He followed Jerry Tweedie, who was the first Shire boys coach, and guided the team for a number of years before turning the program over to Matt Tardie. After Tardie left, Todd Willard, James Bates and Tim Guiod all took turns coaching the team before Carlos returned three years ago. Since his return to the program, Carlos has compiled a 37-9-3 record.
    “When I look back at my early coaching career, I do things a lot differently,” he said. “I don’t run players during practice. We do everything with small grids and passes. Running in August doesn’t benefit the team come October and November.”
    Assistant coach Matt Swallow, who has filled in for Carlos following his knee replacement surgery Oct. 27, said he hoped to convey the significance of playing in a state championship game to the Shires. Swallow played soccer for Houlton in the mid-1980s and actually had Carlos as his coach.
    “We talked about how special this game is and what it means for Houlton to come this far,” said Swallow, who also serves as the junior varsity coach. “We play a different type of soccer today than we did in the ‘80s. The key (to the team’s success) is working the two programs as one. We can integrate the guys who are excelling at the jayvee level into the varsity program.”