CARIBOU, Maine — There should be plenty of motivation for the Viking boys’ varsity soccer team heading into the season.
The team is coming off a disappointing 2014, having gone just 2-10-2 and missing out on the playoffs.
Caribou lost five key players from that team. Four were seniors, including starters Taylor Thibodeau, Colby Holdsworth, Dustin Bouchard and Austin Griffeth, and the fifth was Dominic Judd, a junior who moved with his family to Montana.
The Vikings will also be without its head coach, Scott Hunter, who suffered a stroke in the spring and is still recovering. Hunter is hoping to return in 2016 but this season will serve as an assistant, handing over the reins to Kyle Corrigan, last year’s junior varsity coach.
Corrigan said the preseason has been a success, thanks to a seasoned group of players.
“The boys work hard day in and day out and have been a very coachable group,” he said. “I’m excited to tap into their potential and help them blossom as soccer players.”
Corrigan had yet to finalize his lineup late last week, but he has seven seniors who will start and make an impact.
“Each one of them brings something different to the table from a leadership standpoint,” Corrigan said. “They engage themselves and others in each of our training sessions, which will help us maximize our potential.”
Michael Hunter is the center-midfielder and the Vikings’ lone captain to start the season.
“He is very skilled and creative with the ball at his foot, controls the game from his position and distributes the ball as well as anyone I’ve seen,” Corrigan said of the Maine Soccer Coaches’ Class B All-East and Penobscot Valley Conference all-star from a season ago.
Forward Hunter Milliard is the fastest player on the team and a great finisher with a solid work ethic. Fellow front-liner Richard Newland brings intelligence to the field and can serve equally well with both feet.
Matt Caron joins Hunter at the center-midfielder slot and has great touch and great vision. He works hard and has a knack of winning balls in the air. Paul Hanson is a defender who is also good out of the air and a good distributor of the ball. Ben Ezzy also plays on the defensive side and is a steady contributor who makes good choices when the ball is on his foot.
Returning as the starter in goal is Ethan Plourde, an outstanding vocal leader and coachable player with solid technique at the position.
Leading the junior group is transfer Andre Rossignol, who played at Van Buren the past two seasons. He is strong and athletic and has a great nose for the ball. He will play up front and has the potential to be a lethal goal scorer.
Sophomores who have nailed down starting roles are Nic Sleeper and Noah Frost. Both will be defenders and bring solid skill sets to their position.
Corrigan said the 11th and final starting position is still up for grabs. Among those in the hunt are junior Cole Jackson, Carson Doody and Austin Cheplic; sophomore Brandon Manter; and freshmen Alex Ezzy and Austin Findlen.
Kate Finnemore and Heaven Melanson are the managers.
“One of our main goals throughout the season is to show improvement every single day. Every step we take as a unit needs to be forward — we can’t afford to take any steps backward as the year goes on,” Corrigan said.
“Our long term goal is to be in peak form towards the end of the season and to make the playoffs,” he added.
Caribou played Fort Kent in a home match Tuesday and will next square off against Presque Isle in another home contest next Tuesday, Sept. 1.
