HOULTON, Maine — A pair of Ethan Holdsworth penalty kicks proved to be the difference as the Caribou boys soccer team notched a 4-1 victory over Houlton Sept. 30.
Holdsworth gave the Vikings the first score of the game on his first penalty kick 11 minutes into the game after a handball call in the scoring area. His second penalty kick came in the second half after Shire goalie, Drew Foley, was called for an obstruction.
The Vikings had just spent time during their last practice Sept. 29 working on their penalty kicks, according to Caribou coach Andre Rossignol. And during that practice Holdsworth ironically missed a number of penalty kicks.
“But he happened to bury them tonight when it mattered,” the coach added.
Houlton tied the game at 1-1 with 24:17 to play in the first half as Isaiah Gentle converted a pass from Jadon Gentle and slid it past Viking keeper Cory Herbert.
“I knew we might be susceptible to a counter attack because of [Houlton’s] speed up front,” coach Rossignol said. “We made one little mistake on our end of the field and Houlton made a couple of nice passes and finished with a really nice ball.”
The score remained knotted at 1-1 at the halftime break, but the Vikings made quick work getting back on top in the second half as Bouchard converted his second penalty kick on the night.
Riley Bouchard added an insurance goal for the Vikings with 15:56 to play as he received a pass from Holdsworth and slipped it past the Shire keeper.
Logan Cheplic chipped in a last-minute, unassisted goal to give Caribou the 4-1 advantage.
Foley made 28 saves on the evening for the Shires, while Herbert collected three saves.
Rossignol said he admired the tenacity of the Houlton squad during their contest.
“Houlton always plays a very physical game, and that physicality can take you a long way,” Rossignol said. “When the weather starts to turn, it can be hard to get those nice touches on the ball.”
Houlton goalie Drew Foley, left, kicks the ball away from Caribou’s Ethan Holdsworth during a Wendesday, Sept. 30, boys soccer game in Houlton. Caribou won 4-1. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
Caribou’s Sawyer Deprey, middle, sprints to the ball while guarded by Houlton’s Cody Johnston, left, and Zach Ervin during a Sept. 28 game in Houlton. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
Houlton’s Caydon Campbell, right, and Caribou’s Brevin Barnes battle for the ball during a Sept. 28 boys varsity soccer game in Houlton. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
Caribou’s Ethan Holdsworth cradles the ball against his body during a Sept. 28 game against Houlton. Looking on is Shire Zach Conley. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
