Sports Editor
ASHLAND — If experience is any indication of how well a team will fare, then the Ashland boys soccer team should be ready for a stellar season.
Ten of the 16 members on the Hornet’s roster were members of the 2007 squad that finished as Eastern Class D champions and state runners-up. Last year, the Hornets finished a solid 9-5 on the season and were ranked ninth in their region. Ashland fell to Fort Fairfield in a preliminary round playoff. Seventh-year coach Kevin Paradis has a bundle of talented athletes to choose from this year, but will be without the services of a number of key players who graduated this past spring. Among those who graduated were Jeremy Tarr, Tony Baker, Stephen Philbrook, Carl Nemer, and the coach’s son Jacob Paradis. Nemer was unable to play all of last season due to a broken leg. He finished just one goal shy of tying the school’s record of 61 goals in a career. Jake Paradis will play soccer for UMPI this fall.
“Our biggest strength is our experience,” coach Paradis said. “We hope to be in the thick of things at playoff time. I like the fact that many of our competitors are looking past us and think that we will be down this year.”
The 2009 Hornets roster includes seniors Casey Cobb (forward/midfield/back), Kyle Spooner (midfielder/back), Andrew Libby (back), Taylor Condon (midfield/back), Lucas Hafford (midfield/back), and Brandon Labbe (midfield/back); juniors Kenny Tarr (forward/midfield), Bobby Gardner (goalie/back), Myles Bolstridge (back), Keith Holmes (back/midfield), and Brandon Saucier (midfield/back); sophomore Royce MacDonald (midfield); and freshmen Jayme D’Ozier (back/goalie), Alex Chasse (midfield/forward), Chris Walker (midfield/back) and Brett Stratton (midfield/back).
Tarr and Cobb are the top two scoring threats for the Hornets and will be called upon to provide the bulk of the offensive scoring load this fall. The Hornets also have two exceptional goalies in Gardner and D’Ozier, who will split time in net this season, to help anchor the backfield.
“Our defense should be much improved,” the coach said. “Our defense will be led by seniors Andrew Libby, Taylor Condon, Kyle Spooner, and junior Myles Bolstridge.”
The Hornets also have the luxury of two players — Hafford and Libby — who have proven adept at long throw-ins.
“In the County, I expect many teams to be very competitive,” coach Paradis said. “Central Aroostook, Southern Aroostook, Wisdom jump out at me as front runners. I have learned to never count out Van Buren. Coach Lapierre and I have had more than one memorable game. I also expect Easton to quickly hit the radar screens with their new coach.”
