Viking girls should be formidable Class B squad

    CARIBOU, Maine — The success the Viking girls’ soccer team experienced in 2013 was somewhat of a surprise to coach Todd Albert.
After graduating 11 players, last year’s squad overachieved by winning 10 regular season games and then two more in the playoffs before finally being eliminated by No. 1 Waterville in the Eastern Maine Class B semifinals.
Caribou will not be sneaking up on anybody this season. The Vikings have a large and talented roster with many back from last year’s team. Six freshmen, all coming off brilliant middle school careers, have also joined the squad and many will be instant contributors.
Albert will count heavily on his all-state players from a year ago — seniors Sarah Doak and Bria Judd. Doak headlines the midfield crew again after scoring 15 goals and notching eight assists last season. Judd, the returning striker, is coming off a record-breaking offensive season in which she tallied 24 goals, which established a Viking record, and also had six assists.
“We hope that they can continue to make our other players better,” Albert said.
Doak and Judd are the team captains along with third-year goalkeeper Morgan Outing, another senior.
Albert has not settled on a starting lineup, but in all likelihood it will be Judd along with sophomore Maddie Doucette (five goals and 10 assists last year) and freshman Searra Herbert on the front line. Joining Doak in the middle will be freshman Gabrielle Marquis and junior Eileen Patton, while six players are competing for the four spots along the back line. Seniors Emilee Susi and Emma Jandreau, juniors Molly Adams and Sara Boyer, sophomore Simone Michaud and freshman Hope Shea are all in the running.
“Competition in practice should keep everyone working hard to earn minutes,” Albert said.
Other players on the roster are senior Madison Doody, juniors Jenna Boucher, Maddy Staples and Maria Espinosa; sophomores Kendra Furber and Kerrigan Manter; and freshmen Danielle Hanson, Camryn Langille and Ashley Matlock.
Sophomore Megan Thornton, who suffered a torn ACL this summer playing soccer, will be the manager.
Chris Bell is Albert’s assistant coach and Andrew Kirby is the JV coach.
“How well we do will depend on how well the girls communicate on the field and making smart plays,” Albert said. “We have to remain healthy and play hard for the full game.”
The Vikings have a difficult early-season schedule, which begins with road contests against Aroostook County rivals Presque Isle (Thursday) and Fort Kent (Tuesday). In fact, Caribou will be the visiting team in six of the first nine games.
The trade-off, however, is a friendly finishing stretch which sees the Vikings at home for four of their last five regular season matches.
“If we play our best, I think we are capable of playing with anyone,” Albert said.