Ashland boys soccer team rebounds
WASHBURN, Maine — After falling to the Washburn Beavers at home six days earlier, the Ashland boys soccer team felt like it had something to prove in the rematch Monday.
The Hornets were dominant for the first 60 minutes of the Labor Day afternoon match and despite giving up a couple late goals were rewarded with a 3-2 victory.
The Hornets (4-2) led 1-0 at intermission and dominated territorially, winning most of the 50-50 balls which led to quality scoring opportunities. They held a 9-2 advantage in shots on goal over the first 40 minutes and put together numerous chances after compiling 14 free kicks thanks to five corners and nine Beaver fouls.
“I thought our front line did a great job of coming back and putting pressure on their backs, forcing a lot of miskicks and turnovers,” said first-year Ashland coach Trevor Hews. “We were getting the first touch and were able to play off that.”
Ashland was able to break through with its first goal with 14:05 to play in the half when senior Ben Philbrook hammered a shot from 20 yards out on the left side that caromed off a Washburn defender and zipped past goalkeeper Caleb Thompson.
The guests kept the momentum going in the second half and registered the first six shots, with the final one leading to a 2-0 lead. Less than 16 minutes in, senior center midfielder Jarrett Beaulier served the ball from the right side and found junior striker Kyle Beaulier open. The junior one-timed it past Thompson for the goal.
Washburn (5-4) finally scored at the 20:06 mark when striker Jovanni Tavares, who had both of his team’s goals in the victory over Ashland, ripped a shot from eight yards out to the left side of the goal. Despite a diving effort by Hornet keeper Timmy Tarr, the ball found the back of the net to cut the margin to 2-1.
Just 1:04 later, Jarrett Beaulier again delivered an assist, this time on a nifty pass from inside the 18 to sophomore forward Alex Kaiser, who beat Thompson to the right to build the lead back to two goals.
Beaulier, who is making a change in position after playing right wing a year ago, said this was the most comfortable he has felt this season.
“It’s more possession and distributing where I am now, and I’m still getting used to it,” he said, “but this is the first game I felt I really adjusted well.”
Taveras was injured with 15 minutes to play and did not return, yet the Beaver offense still had some life. Kevin Jordan lofted a serve from deep on the left side and the ball floated toward the opposite post. Andrew Gumphrecht was right there to head the ball past Tarr with 9:40 to play, inching Washburn back within a goal.
“We finally settled in and played balls to our feet instead of trying to lob it over the top,” said Washburn coach Ben Goodwin of his team’s late offensive surge. “That is when we really progressed well.”
However, the Beavers got off just one more shot the rest of the way as Ashland’s defense tightened back up.
Ashland also received a strong individual performance from senior stopper back Airin Harmon, who won many balls in the air and also turned in an excellent defensive effort, helping slow down the potent Beaver attack led by Taveras and senior forward Noah Caron.
Tarr saved four of seven shots for Ashland, while Thompson turned away five of 18 in goal for Washburn.
