Staff Writer
Today is the day local soccer teams find out whether they are in or out of the playoffs and if they are in, which team they play next.
Contributed photo/Dave Allen Graphics
Viking Eric Brown makes one of his 14 saves, while PI’s Warren Zubrick and Caribou’s Brandon Caverhill get in on the play. Presque Isle scored four times in the final 22 minutes for a 4-0 win.
The Caribou boys are one of those “bubble” teams. The Vikes struggled down the stretch and dropped a pair of matches last week to Fort Kent and Presque Isle.
The top 13 teams in Eastern Maine Class B qualify and Caribou was 12th in last week’s standings prior to the two recent losses. Rockland and Bucksport were the two teams behind the Vikes in the standings capable of catching them, but Caribou coach Mark Shea said Tuesday that he believes his team will hold on to the No. 12 position and be involved in a preliminary playoff game on the road Saturday.
This past Saturday, Caribou closed out the season with a 4-0 loss at home to Presque Isle, which finished undefeated and is the No. 1 team in the division. It took more than a half for the Wildcats to reach the scoreboard, but Russ Mortland scored twice to lead the way.
The Vikes were outshot by a margin of 18-6, with Eric Brown collecting 14 saves for Caribou and PI’s Dillon Kingsbury saving thee shots.
Caribou’s final regular season record is 7-5-2.
The Lady Vikes fell at home to Presque Isle last Tuesday (see game story on this page), but did avenge an early-season loss to Madawaska Thursday by winning on the road, 1-0, thanks to a goal by Jamie Martin with just over 14 minutes left in regulation. Brittany Doak was solid in goal, saving 10 shots off 11 attempts for Caribou, which wrapped up regular season play at 11-3 and should finish among the top-five teams in the division and play in a prelim Friday at home.
In other action last week, Limestone/MSSM routed the Wisdom girls, 9-1, last Tuesday. Kellie Peers scored four goals and Stacy Bernier netted three to lead the winning offense. The Lady Eagles, 6-7, were eighth in last week’s EM Class D standings.
The Eagle boys lost to the Pioneers that same day, 5-0. Brandon Hopkins had 10 saves on 29 shots in goals for Limestone/MSSM, which fell to 3-9-1 but still had a chance to sneak into the playoffs.
The Fort Fairfield girls downed Central Aroostook, 5-1, to close out its campaign last Tuesday. Brooke Beaulieu, Courtney Churchill, Lindsey Graves, Emily Weissman and Rosemary Williams were the Lady Tiger goal scorers. Fort finished at 8-5-1 and probably will hang on to its top-eight position and host a preliminary playoff match.
The Fort boys tied the CA Panthers, 1-1, in its regular season finale. Jeremy Dillon scored the game tying goal with 13:46 to go in regulation for the Tigers after Dan Brewer had tallied the Panthers’ goal in the first half. Fort is at 8-5-1 and coach John Ala is confident the tie will keep his team among the top eight.
The Washburn girls lost their final two regular season matches, to Southern Aroostook last Tuesday, 3-1, and to Van Buren Thursday, 3-0. Morgan Berube scored the lone goal against the Lady Warriors. Washburn had been in fourth place in last week’s standings, but the two losses could drop the Lady Beavers a slot or two.
The Beaver boys finished with just one win this season after falling twice last week to SA and Van Buren.
Contributed photo/jane mavor
Warren Zubrick of the Presque Isle Wildcats, left, and Caribou’s Nate Rossignol battled for possession of the ball during Saturday’s match played at CHS. The ‘Cats stayed undefeated, beating the Vikes, 4-0.
