Caribou cross country teams strong in Hermon meet
Some teams in Aroostook County had already played six games, but the Limestone-MSSM Eagle boys and girls finally got their soccer season underway Saturday afternoon in Ashland.
Despite a fast start, the Eagle boys dropped a 2-1 decision to the Hornets. Ahmed Beshir got Limestone-MSSM on the scoreboard at the 22:15 mark of the first half, but after that the Eagles were unable to generate a consistent attack. Ashland took advantage with goals by Jarrett Beaulier and Kyle Beaulier in the second half. Matthew Pelkey had seven saves on 16 shots for Limestone-MSSM.
The matchup was a difficult one for the Eagle girls, who were playing the defending state champion Hornets. In the end, it was too much for Limestone-MSSM to handle as the team fell by an 11-0 score. The Eagles were outshot 33-5, with Jackie Peers saving 17 shots in goal.
The teams will next play at Fort Kent Friday — the girls at 5 p.m. and the boys at 7 p.m. The Eagles’ scheduled home contests Monday against Wisdom were postponed and moved to Oct. 16.
The Caribou girls debuted last Tuesday with an impressive 5-1 triumph over defending Class C Eastern Maine champion Fort Kent. Maddie Doucette was the star on offense as she scored three times and set up another goal. Ashley Matlock scored off a Gabrielle Marquis assist in the first half and converted a Doucette pass into a goal in the second half.
Hope Shea and Jenna Boucher picked up assists on two of Doucette’s goals. Jaelynn Doody started in goal for the Vikes and saved four of six shots. Hollie McDougal was untested as she came on late in the game.
The Vikings are back to work tonight as they host Presque Isle at 7 p.m.
The Caribou boys were beaten by the Warriors, 4-2, in their first game under coach Kyle Corrigan, played that same evening. Brandon Theriault had all four goal for Fort Kent, all coming in the first half. The Vikes battled back after intermission on goals by Richard Newland and Hunter Milliard, both assisted by Michael Hunter, but were unable to come all the way back.
The Viking boys hosted Presque Isle Tuesday. Both Caribou squads will be on the road for games Saturday at Mount Desert Island and Monday at Foxcroft Academy.
Fort Fairfield and Washburn met up Thursday and in the boys’ game, the Tigers doubled up on the Beavers, 6-3. Jonah Daigle and Chris Gill scored two goals each and Chris Giberson and Ryan Player netted one each for the winners. McCall Turner, Jovanni Taveras and Kevin Jordan scored for the Beavers. In the girls’ contest, FF rolled to a 10-0 triumph.
The Tiger girls have a make-up game against Central Aroostook tonight at 6:30 p.m. in Mars Hill. Both FF teams are in Southern Aroostook Friday afternoon.
Central Aroostook also swept the Beavers last Tuesday. In boys’ play, Carter Doak scored Washburn’s lone goal in the 3-1 loss on the road. The CA girls blanked Washburn, 7-0. Taylor Howe had eight saves on 22 shots in goal for the Beavers. The Washburn squads played at Ashland Tuesday and will take on Easton at home Thursday afternoon.
The cross country season got underway Saturday with Caribou in a meet at Hermon which featured a unique format. The course was 1.7 miles in length and there were individual races and relays for girls, boys and mixed teams.
Coach Thomas Beckum said his girls “had an awesome meet.” The top Viking relay team had Madeline Gudde, Emma Belyea and Julia Page placing third overall in 35:15.67. Page had the third fastest leg of 11:23. His JV runners competed in the open race, with Anya O’Meara the fasted Caribou runner in 12:55.25, good for sixth out of 24 runners.
Roy Alden, coach of the Viking boys, said the meet was a good test on a short course.
“All in all it was a good start,” he said. “I was pleased with the effort and the paces and it will be interesting to see how they improve over the next month.”
Caribou’s Evan Desmond won the open race in 9:22.52, followed closely by teammate Chathu Karunasiri in 9:22.99. Caleb Hunter of the Vikings took fourth in 9:36.13.
In the boys’ relay, the same trio took first in 29:10.10. The Caribou team of Lukas Lagasse, Alec Cyr and Elijah Verhoff was third in 30:50.76.
Karunasiri and Hunter had two of the three fastest legs on the day — Karunasiri in 9:32.99, good for second place, and Hunter in 9:37.2, good for third.
In the two-person co-ed relay, Caribou’s team of Simone Michaud and Tsion MacLeod was third overall and Sarae Greenier and Riley McDuffie took fourth.
Caribou will compete next in the Ellsworth Invitational Saturday, while MSSM will join other County schools in a meet to take place at Washburn this afternoon beginning at 4 p.m.
The Caribou Vikings played its first regular season golf match Tuesday afternoon. Coach Marc Weeks’ squad was in Houlton for a match against the Shires. Next up for the team is a match at Pine Hill in Brewer Friday against John Bapst and Presque Isle.
Fort Fairfield has already been in action against Hodgdon and will host Central Aroostook this afternoon at 3:30 p.m.
