By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
An intriguing matchup is in store for this afternoon as the Washburn and Ashland girls’ soccer teams meet with an Eastern Maine Class D soccer title on the line.
The game will be played at 1 p.m. in Washburn. The winner will play either Buckfield or Richmond in Saturday’s state championship match scheduled at Bath’s McMann Field.
The teams enter with identical 15-1 records as they split their regular season matches. Ashland won the Sept. 9 game in Washburn, 4-0, and 10 days later in the rematch played at Ashland, the Beavers scored a 7-0 victory.
Washburn is the reigning EM champion, while Ashland has made it to the title game three of the last four years and owns one title during that stretch.
The No. 1 seed Beavers are coming off convincing playoff victories over Schenck of East Millinocket (9-1) and Van Buren (9-0). Ashland faced a tougher challenge, but survived by besting Central Aroostook in the quarterfinals, 2-1, and Fort Fairfield in the semis, 2-0.
The Beavers have won eight in a row by a margin of 67-7, with four of the goals allowed coming in a regular season win over Van Buren.
Ashland has also been defensive-minded throughout the campaign, compiling eight shutouts overall.
Washburn features several talented offensive players, including junior Mackenzie Worcester, who had 49 goals on the season and 109 in her career. Joan Overman and Carsyn Koch have notched 25 and 16 goals, respectively, while Carmen Bragg has a team-high 11 assists.
Beaver coach Marcie Barbarula said the team has picked up the pieces since the home shutout loss to Ashland.
“That game was a wake-up call,” she said. “Since then, they have been working very well together and communicating as a team. They have the drive to win and know that it takes going out onto the field and giving 100 percent.”
Barbarula knows Ashland will come ready to play.
“They are a very quick team and pass the ball very well,” she said. “The biggest key is that we are going to have to beat them to the ball, be aggressive and work as a team.”
Hornet coach Peter Belskis is looking forward to seeing how matchup No. 3 turns out between the two rivals.
“I really think we have similar teams and match up well,” Belskis said. “It could come down to ball possession. If we have an equal amount of ball possession, we should be able to stay in the game.
The Hornets also have some offensive weapons in their own right. Marissa Chasse has 25 goals on the year, while LeAnn McNally has tallied 17 but has saved her best play for late in the year as she has netted 15 over the second half of the season.
Ashland will be bolstered by having a healthy sweeper in freshman standout Cassidy Pelletier. She suffered an injured ankle late in the regular season and is now close to full strength, according to Belskis. She scored two goals in the team’s victory at Washburn.
