STACYVILLE, Maine — With three seasons of varsity coaching experience under her belt, Katahdin girls soccer coach Lisa Timberlake feels strongly that the Cougars are ready to take the next step.
The Cougars finished last year with a 0-13-1 record, but that statistic is misleading, the coach said.
“Last year’s season did not accurately reflect the progress the team has made over the last season or the last few years,” she said. “We closed the gap considerably on all the teams we played the second time around and came close to winning several times.
“Our closest game last year was against Schenck,” Timberlake continued. “The score was tied and in the final seconds, my fastest striker, Erin Robinson (a sophomore at the time) scored what appeared to be the winning goal only to have it called back because one of the referees claimed the ball did not cross the goal line before the expiration of the clock. So the monkey is still on our backs. Having felt the joy of the first win only to have it taken away was a crushing blow to the entire team and now winning has become the monkey on our backs as well as the proverbial elephant in the room or on the field to be more accurate.”
The Cougars lost Kassadi Moore to graduation, while several others have changed schools.
The 2015 roster includes seniors Kaycee Cintron (midfielder), Molly Cunningham (midfielder/defender), Courtney Stevens (goalie/striker) and Sophie Vetter (striker/midfielder/defender); and juniors Rylee Fitzpatrick (defender), Kelsey Hamm (striker/midfielder), Tehya Harrison (defender), Emily Knowles (midfielder), Georgia Landry (sweeper/goalie/midfielder), Bailee Moody-Kay (striker/midfielder), Breanna Nason (midfielder/striker) and Erin Robinson (striker).
The sophomores include Kate Anderson (midfielder), Leanne Fitzpatrick (midfielder), Shyanne Foss (defender/midfielder), Natalie Rickards (defender/midfielder) and Jordyn Ritchie (striker/midfielder); and freshmen Lindsay Drew (defender/midfielder), Hannah Kyllonen (midfielder), Erin Lake (striker/midfielder) and Haley Landry (defender/goalie).
Her outlook for the season is extremely positive. “If we can play a more balanced game meaning the offense is more involved in the play, we can win,” Timberlake said. “We have the ability to win a few games and get a playoff spot this season. If what the girls are capable of doing is what plays out on the field come game day, this prediction will become a reality.”
Coach Timberlake said she expects big things from her captains — Stevens, Vetter, Cintron and Cunningham — while junior Robinson is the team’s top scoring threat.
Stevens will start her third season as goalie. “She has been playing since she was a freshman and is one of if not the biggest strengths of our team,” the coach said. “Last year she made 286 saves from 343 shots which is an 83 percent save rate. Courtney goes above and beyond to stop shots from becoming goals. She is an aggressive and dynamic player who I think doesn’t get the recognition she deserves because of our team win/loss record.”
Vetter has played all four years of high school and is a natural athlete who not only has amazing ball skills, but understands the strategies of soccer and all sports that she plays, the coach said. “She is a leader on the field. I would play her at center-mid but because of injuries that have plagued her over the years, she will start as center striker this year.”
Robinson is the team’s most consistent striker, according to Timberlake. “She has blazing speed which gives her the ability to fly up the field and score,” she said. “Erin can score under pressure and in my book, did give us our first win last season even though the goal didn’t count.”
Coach Timberlake said Cunningham is a threat on defense with her ability to send the ball, while Cintron is a versatile player who has played most positions, but thrives on the wings. Landry is the type of player a coach would love more of, Timberlake said, while Lake and Drew are two freshmen who have the ability to push the Cougars to a more competitive level. Lake is known for her offensive prowess and Drew comes to the team having played sweeper and striker with great success. “I can already see the positive impact these players are having on the team,” Timberlake said.
The strengths of the team is its heart and desire to win. “This team works very hard and does everything that is asked of them to do,” the coach said. “These girls have heart and for them I hope this season we get the monkey off our backs.”
The coach outlined her strategy for the season. “What I want to do to improve our progress is play a more balanced game. When we first started as a team three years ago, we became very focused on the defensive side of the game. The opposition should not be taking 343 shots against us in a season. The transition to a more balanced game where the offense has the ability to maintain possession of the ball has been slow but we are definitely making strides this season. I am looking for more defensive stops that result in offensive possession and scoring,” she said.
Timberlake said she enjoys the opportunity to work with these athletes who work so hard for her every day. “I am an English teacher at the school as well so working with kids has always been my calling,” she said. “With coaching the relationship is different than teacher/student. I get to see another side of the students I teach as they do me. I enjoy trying different strategies and watching plans come together. Their record may not show it, but these girls have come a long way since that first practice in August of 2012.”
Katahdin opens its season Tuesday, Sept. 1, at 3:30 p.m. hosting Southern Aroostook.
