Soccer season kicks off in region
By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
It’s still officially summer, but the fall sports season is now under way for teams in central Aroostook County.
Contributed photos/jMavor Photography
ATTACKING — Washburn’s Joan Overman tries to control the ball and rush toward the goal during Friday’s match against Central Aroostook. 
Kelsey Dominique of Central Aroostook looks on. Overman scored three goals and Mackenzie Worcester (1, in back) netted four in the Beavers’ 11-1 triumph Friday in Washburn.
Washburn hosted Central Aroostook in a doubleheader Friday to begin the season, while the Beaver squads played their second contests three days later.
The defending Eastern Maine Class D champion Beaver girls have shown early on that they are ready to make a bid for another title.
Coach Marcie Barbarula’s squad has outscored its first two opponents by a combined margin of 18-2 in rolling to victories.
On Friday, Washburn unloaded an 11-goal attack on Central Aroostook en route to a lopsided win. Mackenzie Worcester scored four times, Joan Overman had three and Carsyn Koch two for the Beavers. Carmen Bragg and Tyra Shaw had one each.
Worcester was the only Washburn player accumulating multiple assists as she had a pair. Taylor Howe, making her debut as the starting goalkeeper, had five saves on seven shots.
Molly Anthony scored CA’s lone goal and teammate and goalkeeper April Santiago notched 21 saves on 48 shots.
On Monday, the Beavers tallied a 7-1 win over Wisdom in St. Agatha. Koch had three goals, Oveman chipped in with two and Worcester and Kennedy Churchill one each. Howe again handled the goalie chores.
Alyssa Dumond scored the Pioneers’ lone goal.
“The girls are working really well together and are passing really well,” said Barbarula, adding that the return of both Koch and Overman, who each missed last season, has added to the team’s quickness.
The coach added Howe is getting more comfortable in goal every time out. She replaces Rayah Saucier, who was a four-year starter.
The Easton girls also had a strong start to the season with a 6-0 shutout win over Hodgdon Saturday. Kylee Carter and Taylor Brown each scored two goals, while Mariah Cyr and Macey Currier netted one each in the victory. Carter, Cassie Buck and Nichole Dudley had assists and Hannah Ferris and Blake Bradley shared the goalie chores and combined to save all eight shots they faced.
Cassidy Clark saved 18 of 35 shots for the Hawks. 
SENIOR Austin Caverhill of the Central Aroostook Panthers goes high for a header against Washburn’s Caleb Thompson during Friday’s mutual regular season soccer opener in Washburn. The two team’s played to a 1-1 tie.
In boys’ play, Washburn and Central Aroostook faced off Friday in Washburn and the two teams played to a 1-1 tie. The Panthers took the lead with 1:12 to play before intermission as Dane Kingsbury scored unassisted. They held the advantage until 4:16 remained in the second half when Noah Farley of Washburn tied it with an unassisted tally.
Spencer Garrison saved three of 18 shots in goal for CA, while Jarrett Olson saved five of 12 for Washburn.
The Beavers were back to work Monday and they fell to Wisdom, 2-1. Shane Chamberland and Evan Esancy had goals for the winners, while Cameron Bragg scored off a Farley assist for Washburn’s lone goal.
On Saturday, Easton managed a 2-1 win over Hodgdon behind Hunter Turner’s unassisted goal which came with just 1:59 left in regulation. Drew Sotomayor scored the Bears’ first goal 4:21 into the match before Jimmy Buzzell tied it 5:30 into the second half.
Jake Flewelling saved six of nine shots for Easton in goal, while Tristan Larson of the Hawks saved 21 of 34.
Ashland and Easton met in a doubleheader Tuesday afternoon in Easton. The Presque Isle teams begin regular season play today with contests at Fort Kent. The girls’ game is at 5 p.m., with the boys to follow at approximately 7 p.m.
Fort Fairfield will finally get on the field for their first games Thursday. The Tiger squads take on Wisdom in St. Agatha, with both games scheduled for 4 p.m.
