The Wildcat boys soccer team has plenty of motivation heading into the season.
Presque Isle went 12-2 during the 2006 regular season, good enough for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Maine Class B playoffs, but were ousted at home in the quarterfinals.
The ’Cats suffered some key personnel losses to graduation, including the entire defense and the leading scorer. However, seventh-year coach Scott Young is once again optimistic thanks to an encouraging pre-season.
“They have come out hungry and have already improved in almost every position,” Young said. “It does look as if we have some potential to make great strides if the boys remain hungry.”
The Wildcats’ starting goalie is sophomore Dillon Kingsbury, who replaces his brother, Adam, who opted not to come out for the team. Junior Evan Richards gets the nod at sweeper, while senior Scott Wilson (a captain) starts at stopper back and classmates Elizan McLean and Gerard Desjardins are the marking backs. Senior Parker Brown figures to see plenty of action as a back, either as a starter or a back-up.
Other reserves on the defensive end are junior Lucas Mathers and sophomores Nate Ackerson and Matt Chasse. Mark Carvell, a junior, is Kingbury’s backup in goal.
The starting midfielders are senior captains Parker Hovey and Ethan Hill, senior Steve Carmichael and junior Russ Mortland. Senior Joel Whitaker and junior Eric Morris will serve as substitutes at midfield.
Senior Chad Carlin and junior Warren Zubrick are the starting forwards, with Cameron Fagin, another junior, coming off the bench.
Young is expecting big things from his three captains, as well as his senior group as a whole. “All three have played in a regional final and a state final as sophomores, so we are hoping they will reflect back and help lead our team to what it will take to get back at that caliber,” Young said.
“Our seniors have had great role models the past few years, and we feel they have already displayed what we will need in order to lead our team to another successful season.”
Steve Goulet and Mike Picard are the PI boys managers, with Tim McCue serving as Young’s assistant coach.
The Wildcats open their regular season slate tonight with a 7 p.m. game at Caribou.
