Seniors again key for ’Cats
By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
PRESQUE ISLE — It’s been an ongoing theme for the Presque Isle boys’ soccer program over the years — utilize a large senior class, fill the remaining slots with talented young players, compete for a position in the post-season and make a run at a title.
The Wildcats are indeed a perennial playoff team. During Scott Young’s decade-long coaching run beginning in 2001, PI won an Eastern Maine championship (2008) and contended for many others. Joe Greaves replaced Young in 2011 and in his first year, PI made it all the way to the Eastern Maine Class B championship. Last year’s team placed fifth in the standings and lost to Caribou in the quarterfinals.
“In my first two years, we have graduated over 20 seniors, which is a huge number,” said Greaves, who in addition will also be without junior Colin McKay, a starter last year who transferred to Hebron Academy. “We don’t have as many upperclassmen as we have had in the past, but the ones we do have are as talented as any group.”
This year’s Wildcat team has just six seniors and four juniors.
The senior group is spearheaded by goalkeeper Cody Lyford and back Tyler Seeley. Lyford is a second-year starter who Greaves considers to be one of the best in Eastern Maine at his position.
“He knows what it takes to lead a team and how to win,” Greaves said.
Seeley, at 6-5, is an intimidating force for an otherwise young defensive corps.
“He brings a certain toughness to this team and that can be hard to find in players,” Greaves said.
Ansu Morrow and Aaron Kofstad are senior returnees at midfield slots. Both bring talent, leadership and great ball striking to the team, according to the coach. Devin Schinhofen has joined this year’s squad and is a player who “fills a huge hole for us.”
“I was worried coming into this year in how our midfield would shape up, but adding Devin makes us a completely different team,” Greaves said.
The other senior is Ryder Soucy, who will start on defense along with junior Keeghan Lowe.
Sophomore Sam Gray gets the nod at the sweeper position. “Even though he’s young, he’s smart and catches on to things quickly,” Greaves said. “He is doing a great job for us back there.”
The Wildcats’ scoring attack is made up of the junior trio of Ben Nickerson, Chase Norton and Alex Michaud, who accounted for 20 of the team’s 30 goals in 2012.
‘They are doing a great job working together this year and we’ll again rely on them to put the ball in the net for us,” Greaves said.
Two other sophomores and three freshmen will be key components off the bench. Kyle Rider and Cooper Madore are the 10th graders who bring toughness to the field, while freshmen Nick Bartlett, Josiah Morse and Khasen Lowe have all played “well above expectations,” according to the coach.
“All our young guys are doing an awesome job and it doesn’t seem like we lose a beat when they enter the game,” Greaves noted.
Tim McCue is back as the team’s assistant coach. The managers are Jessica Cameron, Aubrie Gross and Elise Guerrette.
