The soccer season got under way for a few local teams last week, with the Fort Fairfield girls able to pull off a pair of victories and the Washburn boys shutting out Limestone/MSSM for a successful home opener.
The Lady Tigers made the trip to St. Agatha Friday and, fueled by Brooke Beaulieu’s hat trick, blanked Wisdom, 6-0. Kelsey Turner scored twice and Courtney Churchill had the other tally for the winners. Katy Donovan needed to make just two saves on five shots to record the shutout.
Suzie Collins faced 25 shots in goal for Wisdom and finished with nine saves.
At home Monday under the lights, Kylie Plourde had both goals, the final one with 1:47 remaining to break a 1-1 deadlock, lifting Fort Fairfield to the victory over Van Buren.
Turner had an assist and Donovan collected two saves on seven shots in net.
Chantal Rioux converted a Kristy Learnard pass for the Crusaders’ lone goal. Ashlie Wilson saved eight of 16 shots for Van Buren, which was playing its regular season opener.
The Central Aroostook girls beat Easton Friday, 4-1, before losing to Madawaska Monday, 11-6.
At Easton, Kristen Long, Vicki McIntyre, Paige Garrison and Sarah Michaud all had goals to lead the Lady Panthers’ offense. Carla Halvorson, a freshman, had Easton’s only goal. Nashali Parks was the winning goalie with seven saves on 22 shots. The Bears’ Taylor Burtt made 20 saves on 31 shots.
At Madawaska, CA was unable to shut down the high-powered Owl offense. However, the Panthers got a hat trick from Brittni Mosher, two goals from Long and a single goal from Olivia Cyr.
Easton bested Wisdom Monday, 6-1, with Ariana Babineau netting three goals to lead the way in the match played in St. Agatha. Danielle Dudley, Mindy Desmond and Halvorson also scored and Katie Cyr chipped in with an assist. Burtt saved nine of 11 shots in goal.
The only other girls game played ended in a 0-0 tie between home team Washburn and visiting Limestone/MSSM Saturday. Meagan Saucier and Rebecca Campbell combined for 16 saves in goal for the Beavers, while the Eagles’ Audra Kirk stopped 12 shots.
The Washburn boys scored two goals before intermission and added the clincher 15 minutes into the second half to beat Limestone/MSSM at home Saturday, 3-0.
Jordan McLaughlin scored the Beavers’ first goal on a penalty kick 17 minutes into the match and freshman Mitchell Worcester wasted little time in collecting his first-ever varsity goal with an unassisted tally 11 minutes later.
McLaughlin accounted for the game’s final goal, which was unassisted. Justin Howe had the shutout in goal for Washburn with six saves. Limestone/MSSM’s Aaron St. Pierre saved 10 of 13 shots.
“We controlled the ball for most of the game and played tough defense, not allowing many shots on net,” said Beaver coach Ben Goodwin, who noted freshman Nick Bragg led the defensive charge.
Central Aroostook was too much for an undermanned Easton team Friday in both teams’ regular season opener played in Easton. The Panthers used the quickness of their front line to score a 7-2 decision over the Bears.
“We played well, but I know we can play better,” said CA coach Wallace Endy. “I thought at times we bunched and we also gave up the midfield by playing too far ahead, but the defense looked strong and the front line looked real strong.”
Dan Brewer had five of his team’s goals – two in the first half and three in the second. Logan Thomas assisted on two of Brewer’s tallies, while Brendan York and Spencer Stetson each contributed one assist. Garrett Stiles scored the Panthers’ other two goals, one unassisted and the other off a Thomas helper. Ross Gray was CA’s goalie and had 13 saves on 19 shots.
Easton, with just 11 players suited up for coach Ryan Shaw’s debut, had two goals from Holden Turner.
The Panthers and the Bears both dropped their matches on Monday.
CA was beaten by Madawaska, 4-1, with Zack Amnott scoring in the first half for the only Panther goal. Tyler Rusby saved 22 of 26 shots in goal for CA.
Easton fell at Wisdom, 4-3. Reid Clark scored twice and Corey White had the other goal for the Bears. Goalkeeper Cody Tompkins saved 22 of 27 shots.
Fort Fairfield was beaten by both Wisdom Friday and Van Buren Monday. The Wisdom game ended up 3-0, with three different players figuring into the scoring for the hosts.
Against Van Buren, the Tigers were able to get into the scoring column with 15 minutes to play, as Austin Bixler scored off a Josh Churchill assist, but the visiting Crusaders prevailed, 3-1. A.J. Edgecomb had a goal and an assist to lead Van Buren in its season debut.
Chris Weeks was Fort Fairfield’s goalkeeper in both matches.
Staff photo/Kevin Sjoberg
CODY TOMPKINS makes a save for Easton during Friday’s soccer game against Central Aroostook.
Staff photo/Kevin Sjoberg
SHANNON LEIGHTON of Limestone/MSSM, left, defends while Kristi Sperrey of Washburn tries to control a loose ball during Saturday’s match. The two teams played to a 0-0 deadlock.
Staff photo/Kevin Sjoberg
SARAH GRASS of the Central Aroostook Lady Panthers, center, tries to fight through the defensive pressure applied by Easton’s Sarah Plourde, left, and Abigail Poole (4) during Friday’s match at Easton. The Lady Panthers prevailed, 4-1.
