By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
FORT FAIRFIELD — Their record to this point indicates the Fort Fairfield Tigers have withstood a challenging season on the soccer field, but coach John Ala has not given up on the playoffs and also said the future looks bright for the program.
In fact, despite a 2-8-1 record, FF enters this week’s play in 13th place in the Eastern Maine Class D standings, with the top 14 teams this year earning berths into the post-season. The Tigers hosted Central Aroostook yesterday and wrap up their slate with away contests against Katahdin and Washburn later this week.
Fort Fairfield has seven seniors on its roster and Ala said he appreciates what they have given the program. Still, the Tigers are relatively inexperienced as 14 of the 19 players are in either their first or second year with the varsity squad.
“I knew there would be growing pains, but the guys have bought into the team philosophy of playing a possession-style game,” Ala said. “I’m pleased with their individual growth and how they’ve grown as a team.”
The Tigers’ starting lineup includes Dereck Dufour, the lone four-year player who is the center midfielder. Ala says he is “outstanding at possessing the ball and leading the offense.”
Dufour is joined at midfield by junior Andrew Tuck and freshmen Johnny Theriault and Mike McLellan.
Ala, who is into his eighth season as the head coach, calls this year’s freshmen class “the strongest I’ve had” and that Theriault and McLellan are two of the three ninth-graders in the starting lineup.
Theriault owns superb instincts and quickness and “has done a great job on the outside,” according to Ala. McLellan has also demonstrated great potential in the sport.
The other starting freshman is wing fullback Caleb Daigle, who is part of a defense that also includes senior goalkeeper Chris Weeks, senior backs Legeorge Williams and Brandon Clark and junior back Andrew Lewis.
“We run a unique style of defense that depends a lot on communication,” Ala said, “and Andrew and Legeorge have been our leaders back there.”
Playing the striker position are senior Jake Wortman and junior Austin Bernier. Wortman is a first-year player, while Bernier is the most improved player on the team and is “a non-stop worker,” according to his coach.
The first players off the bench for the Tigers are junior midfielder Collin Cassidy, freshman midfielder Robbie Watson, sophomore striker Carter Shaw, freshman wing back Hunter Beaulieu and junior Tyler Churchill, who plays all over the field.
Freshman Brandon Cook and seniors Steven Adams and Carl Smith are Fort Fairfield’s other varsity soccer players.
