PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Hopes of contending for a state championship were dashed for the Houlton girls soccer team last week as the No. 3 Fort Kent (10-4-3 overall) pulled off a 1-0 upset victory over top-ranked Houlton (14-1-2 overall) Wednesday evening.
Neither squad was able to crease the net during 80 minutes of regulation and two 15-minute overtime periods, therefore the game was decided on penalty kicks.
“You hate for a game like this to end on penalty kicks,” Fort Kent coach Robbie Nadeau said. “Honestly, either team had chances to win here tonight.”
“It’s a tough way to lose a championship, but I completely respect and understand this (scenario),” Houlton coach Tim Tweedie said. “You have to look at the safety of the kids.”
It was the second time that Houlton has lost a playoff decision on penalty kicks. Three years ago against Calais in the quarterfinals, the Shires lost after three rounds of penalty kicks.
The game was played on the artificial turf of the Johnson Athletic Complex in Presque Isle because Houlton’s home field was not suitable for use after 18 inches of snow blanketed the region on Sunday. And while it took “home field” advantage away from the Shires, a healthy gathering of Houlton fans made the 44-mile trip to Presque Isle to watch the game.
The closeness of the game should not have come as a surprise to followers of either squad. The Shires and Warriors met twice during the regular season, with the two squads battling to 0-0 stalemate Sept. 12 in Houlton and the Shires notching a 2-1 victory Sept. 26 in Fort Kent.
During regulation, both teams had plenty of opportunities as the Shires and the Warriors each had 20 shots on goal. Stellar play from Houlton junior goalie Katie Condon and Fort Kent senior net minder Alexa Pelletier kept the game scoreless. Both goalies finished with 15 saves on the night.
Fort Kent held a sizeable 13-3 advantage in corner kicks.
“I think in the first half, we played a little bit too cautious, like we were playing not to lose,” Tweedie said. “In the second half, I thought we played much better and there were several times where I thought we were going to break through and get one (goal).”
Since neither team was able to score, the game was decided by penalty kicks, with Fort Kent successfully making four shots to Houlton’s three. For Houlton, Emily Mooers, Natalie Hill and Kolleen Bouchard successfully made their penalty kicks. For Fort Kent, Sadie Desjardins, Erin Chasse, Cassidy Lovely and Danielle Pelletier converted.
Coach Tweedie said his squad had spent some time over the past month working on penalty kicks in the event they were needed for the playoffs. He said each athlete has free reign in deciding how she approaches a kick.
“We see things in practice,” he said. “Some girls are power kickers while others are more finesse. But ultimately, soccer is a player’s game and they get to decide where the kicks go.”
Coach Nadeau praised the effort of his senior goalie, particularly during the penalty kicks portion of the game.
“I think Alexa is the best goalie in the state,” coach Nadeau said. “She didn’t make All-East, and I am not sure what some of the coaches were thinking about that, but I would put her in goal against anybody, anywhere, anytime.”
