PI Wildcat boys having
another solid campaign
By Kevin Sjoberg
PRESQUE ISLE – It has been quite a season for a team that had several very talented players to replace from a year ago. Then again, year after year, coach Scott Young’s Presque Isle Wildcat boys soccer team seems to find a way to stay competitive in the Eastern Maine Class B ranks.
This year’s version has been at or near the top of its division from the start. The Wildcats have compiled a 10-1-1 mark, including eight shutouts, and have two games remaining – Thursday (at home against Mattanawcook) and Tuesday (at Caribou).
“We had a strong preseason and we have been a very hard working team throughout,” Young said. “We have great leadership from many of our players, but especially our three captains – Josh Allen, Brandon Bonville and Andrew Legassie.”
All three were members of the Eastern Maine championship team from 2008 and are very motivated to advance at least that far once again.
PI won its own preseason tournament and following a season-opening 2-2 tie at Fort Kent, competed in a tournament downstate and went unbeaten. Since that time, they have lost only once, to Ellsworth Sept. 25, and other than that game have outscored their opponents by an impressive 51-3 margin.
“Since our loss, we have been trying to set some new goals and more or less put the focus back on team fundamentals,” Young said. “We have had a lot of alumni come into practice and help simulate game speed scenarios, and that has really helped.”
Young said the play of Presque Isle’s bench has been “better than we originally anticipated, so we are getting stronger all over the field.”
The offense is spearheaded by Allen, who starts at midfield and has 21 goals and five assists to his credit. He is helped on the front line by Wilder York (12/5) and Isaac LaJoie (9/6). Other starters at midfield are Jacob Player (2/3), Caleb Mathers (1/2) and Cole Richards (1/3).
The team’s stellar defense includes Bonville and Legassie, both who play center back. Bonville is an excellent defender and excels at balls in the air. Legassie is the team’s best marking back, but has also been a heavy contributor to the offense as evidenced by his team-leading seven assists. He also has two goals to his credit.
Andrew Wilcox and Logan Good are the starting wing backs, while Andrew Kofstad is in his first year as the starting goalkeeper after serving as a backup a year ago to Dillon Kingsbury, who was a three-year starter. Kofstad has been steady and has demonstrated natural ability while working hard to steadily improve.
Junior Riley Norton is a key player who has shaken off injuries early in the season to become an important reserve who is used as a back and as a midfielder. Jacob Williams, Sam Clukey, Jonah Stephenson, Ben McKenna, Jamison Getman, Michael Guerrette and Khyver Lowe are the team’s other substitutes.
Tim McCue is the team’s assistant coach, while Mike Picard, Tyler Eager, Dani Woolland and Laurin Ackerson handle the managing duties.
Despite the success thus far, Young knows the Wildcats still have plenty of work to do to get ready for the post-season.
“We still need to get into better shape physically and we need to continue to improve on balls in the air,” Young said. “We absolutely must clean up our play inside the defensive 18 and we plan to get a little cleaner on the offensive end as well. We do a great job of creating opportunities, and now we need to finish a little more consistently.”
However, the potential is there to make another run toward a title, according to Young.
“If this group continues to work hard every day and continues to understand that our next game is our most important game, we will have a great chance to make another deep run into the playoffs and maybe play for another championship,” he added.
Contributed photos/Dave Allen Graphics
ANDREW LEGASSIE takes a throw-in during a Wildcat soccer match earlier this season. Legassie is a key defender for the PI boys.
ON THE MOVE – Josh Allen, a senior captain for the Presque Isle Wildcats, takes the ball into scoring position during an exhibition tournament game against Deering held in southern Maine in late August. Allen has scored 21 goals and dished out five assists for the 10-1-1 Wildcats, who lead their division.
