Hornets take state title with overtime victory
HAMPDEN, Maine — Ashland High School girls soccer coach Peter Belskis called 13-year-old freshman striker Mackenzie Carter “the young assassin.’
“She lulls you to sleep and and then the next thing you know, the ball is exploding off either of her feet,” said Belskis after watching Carter score a pair of goals, including the game-winner just 4:07 into overtime, to give the Hornets a 2-1 victory over Richmond Saturday and their first state Class D title since 1989.
The Ashland girls concluded an 18-0 season by denying Richmond a fourth gold ball in five years. Ashland’s Aroostook County neighbor Washburn beat the Bobcats 2-1 in last year’s final.
Richmond wound up 16-1.
Meranda Martin scored the Richmond goal just 5:47 after Carter had opened the scoring early in the second half.
It was the right foot of Carter, the same one that beat Penobscot Valley of Howland 1-0 in the Eastern Maine final, that decided it in overtime.
The ball pinballed in the Richmond penalty area and a botched Bobcat clearance went sideways over to Carter at the top of box.
She calmly used the inside of her right foot to place her 17-yard shot into the far corner past the diving Kelsie Obi.
“(Obi) got caught on the near side so I kicked it far post,” said Carter, whose goal was her 22nd of the season, a school record for a freshman.
“Mackenzie is amazing,” said Ashland freshman defender Micayla Driscoll, whose tenacity, physicality and ability to win 50-50 balls helped switch the momentum over to Ashland in the second half after Richmond had the better of the play in the first half thanks to its physical play.
Carter had nearly won the game with 30 seconds left in regulation when her goal-bound shot from a scramble labeled for the far corner was headed away by Richmond defender Jade Gammon.
The Hornets proved to be resilient as starting goalie Megan Cote suffered a broken collarbone in a collision with Richmond’s Camryn Hurley and left just 8:15 into the game.
But junior Laura Sturgeon, a starting fullback who used to be a goalie in middle school, stepped in and made six saves on 13 shots to backstop the win.
“These girls rise to the occasion,” said Belskis. “I don’t know if you can have a bigger challenge than losing your goalkeeper 10 minutes into a game and you have to go to somebody else who hasn’t played a minute there this season. Laura Sturgeon is a special kind of player. I don’t think she gave up a goal in her middle school career.”
“I was nervous. It was kind of scary. I just wanted to do the best I could for my team,” said Sturgeon.
Fifteen minutes into her stint, a well-crafted passing sequence enabled Kelsea Anair to break in on Sturgeon, who raced off her line and smothered the shot with her hands and face.
“After that save, I felt more confident,” said Sturgeon who made another great save moments later by swatting away Anair’s well-placed free kick.
Carter broke the scoreless tie with 30:36 left in regulation when she converted a diagonal pass from Savannah Flint with a 14-yard shot inside the far post.
The speedy Martin, who was a constant threat, drew the Bobcats level when she followed up an Emily Snowden shot and converted after Sturgeon had fumbled it.
“We wanted to get a couple more shots on [Sturgeon] but they had marks on our strikers and they were strong in the back,” said Martin. “They’re a very good team. They’re fast.”
In addition to Carter, Sturgeon and Driscoll, Ashland sophomore sweeper Cassidy Pelletier turned in a tremendous performance, making a number of long clearances to thwart Bobcat attacks. The fleet-footed Flint was dangerous throughout and Caitlin Paradis was a key midfield catalyst.
Gammon and Cassidy Harriman were standouts in the back for Richmond and Martin and Anair were exceptional up front. Obi finished with six stops on 18 shots.
“I’m very excited. This has been four years in the waiting,” said Hornet captain Marissa Chasse, Ashland’s only senior starter.
