Sports Editor
PRESQUE ISLE — A perfect season is something every team dreams of, but few ever get a chance to accomplish. Could that dream become a reality for the Presque Isle girls soccer team?
Quite possibly. Heading into last night’s match against Fort Kent, the Wildcats were just one game away from achieving the remarkable feat of finishing undefeated on the regular season, but don’t ask the squad to talk about it.
“The girls don’t talk about that [finishing undefeated],” Presque Isle coach Ralph Michaud said. “The rule we have is we only talk about our next game.”
That next game was against the Warriors, a strong Class C team. A win over Fort Kent, or even a tie, and the Wildcats should get enough points in the Maine Principals’ Association’s Heal Points standings to secure the top seed in the region for the second straight year. Even with a loss, Presque Isle may still slide into the top spot, or could end up second in the region behind Winslow (14-0).
Presque Isle has had a number of nail-biters this season, including rallying from a 2-1 halftime deficit to beat John Bapst, 3-2, Sept. 21 and needing double overtime to best Old Town, 3-2, Sept. 25.
Coach Michaud, who is in his 12th year with the Wildcats, came into the season with high hopes for his team squad, but also a lot of unknowns. Presque Isle lost six seniors to graduation, including All New England Sarah Porter; All-State Kayla Lagasse; and all-Eastern Maine Amber Griffin.
“We lost a defender and midfielder and striker, who controlled middle for us last year,” Michaud said. “I knew we were going to be very young, but the young kids have stepped up. They have really meshed well together.”
The 2009 Wildcat roster features seniors Kelsey Park, Jenna Stephenson, Amy Grivois, Brooke Long-Postell, Jodie Buckley, Kailee Ireland; juniors Rilee Elliot-Currie, MacKenzie Pinette, Lindsay Michaud, Chelsea Lynds and Shae Adler; sophomores Chelsea Nickerson, Elise Jones, Kayla Richards, Hillary Albert and Kate Campbell; and freshmen Chandler Guerrette, Karlee Bernier and Megan Ireland.
The managers are Whitney LaPointe and Stacia Caron.
“We have had a different player step up almost every single game,” Michaud said.
Last year, the Wildcats finished 13-1 and were first in Eastern Class B. Presque Isle won the Eastern Class B championship with a 3-2 victory over Winslow, but lost to Falmouth 2-0 in the state championship. Beating Winslow in the regional title game marked the first time in four years that the Black Raiders were not EM Class B champs.
Winslow and Presque Isle are in a heated race for the No. 1 seed in Eastern Class B. Winslow holds a slight lead over the Wildcats, but the Black Raiders have already finished their regular season schedule. PI will benefit with a win or tie against Fort Kent as well as help points (wins by teams who the Wildcats have beaten).
The two top-ranked teams have pretty much had their way with opponents this year. Presque Isle has scored 53 goals, while allowing eight in 13 games, while Winslow has scored 64 goals and allowed five through 13 games.
“When we stopped their streak last year, they [Winslow] were not happy,” Michaud said. “I’ve seen them play and they are very, very good.”
Presque Isle and Winslow did not face each other during the regular season, nor did they play a single common opponent.
