FORT FAIRFIELD, Maine — Excitement was high on Friday night as Fort Fairfield and Wisdom girls duked it out to advance into the soccer quarterfinals.
During their last game, the No. 7 Fort Fairfield Tigers (11-3-0) beat No. 10 Wisdom (8-6-0), 2-0 in a Class D North prelim game. Fort Fairfield moves on to the quarterfinals, playing against No. 2 Ashland on Tuesday, Oct. 29. The time of the game has not yet been announced.
Friday night, the two teams came ready to face off in the preliminary game with tenacity and a hunger to win.
Fort Fairfield player Jayde McKenney (right) chases the ball next to a Wisdom player during the preliminary match on Oct. 25, 2019.
(Staff Photo/ Nina Mahaleris)
Fort Fairfield and Wisdom both put up a strong defense that lasted throughout the entire game.
Camryn Ala for the Tigers made the first goal of the game during the first half.
The Tigers huddled together during halftime, some wrapped in fleece blankets as a late-October chill set in. They went on to score again in the second half, with a goal from Kennedy Bencivenga, assisted by Kourtney West.
Wisdom persevered, holding up a strong defense although they went scoreless against Fort Fairfield.
“We put everything out on the field,” Wisdom Coach Kevin Lavoie said after the loss.
Fort Fairfield Tigers surround a Wisdom player with the ball during their preliminary game on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019.
(Staff Photo/ Nina Mahaleris)
The team was down three players, two of whom were seniors, he said.
Coach John Ala of the Tigers also noted the contentious match. “We knew going into this that [it] was not going to be an easy prelim,” he said, referencing Wisdom’s strong skills on the field.
Cheers could be heard from beyond the field as fans and players celebrated the team’s win. “They’re excited to advance,” Ala said.
