DYER BROOK, Maine — It has been a rollercoaster season for the East Grand girls soccer team this fall.
Featuring a small roster of just 11 players, the Vikings have on a couple of occasions had to play with a reduced squad due to illness and injuries. It has also meant that getting breaks on the field have not been possible with no substitutes waiting to check in.
Such was the case Tuesday afternoon in Dyer Brook when East Grand journeyed to Southern Aroostook for a Class D North girls soccer contest. East Grand entered the game with just nine players — two shy of the 11 players needed for a full roster.
The Vikings are now 1-6-1 on the season with six more games remaining. The team’s lone victory was a 3-2 win over Katahdin at home.
“The season has been good so far,” first-year coach Gina Yeo said. “We don’t have a lot of wins, but the girls have been working hard and improving every game. This is my first year coaching, so we are all learning day by day.”
That two-player variation made a huge difference as the Warriors scored early and often en route to a 7-0 victory. The two teams had played to a 2-2 tie in Danforth earlier in the season.
In Tuesday’s contest, Southern Aroostook spread the scoring around with five different players booting a goal. Madison Russell collected three goals for the Warriors, all unassisted. Joining in the scoring were Cami Shields, Olivia Ellingwood, Madison Shields and Annie Harthorne.
Members of the East Grand squad are seniors Emma Davis, Phoebe Foss, Madeline Cowger and Madison Napoli; juniors Victoria Gilman, Kailea Fish and Jayden Williams; freshmen Isabella Cowger, Hannah Doiron, Haylie Godfrin and Mariyah Castigliego; and eighth-grader Rosemary Boyce.
Assisting Yeo with coaching is Orion Merrill.
DYER BROOK, Maine — October 4, 2022 — East Grand’s Kailea Fish (right) tries to knock the ball away from Southern Aroostook’s Madison Russell during an Oct. 4 girls soccer game. Russell had three goals to lead SA to a 7-0 victory. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
DYER BROOK, Maine — October 4, 2022 — East Grand’s Mariyah Castigliego (right) kicks the ball away from Southern Aroostook’s Madison Shields during a Tuesday, Oct. 4, girls soccer contest. SA won 7-0. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
