Despite coaching change,
beat goes on for Hornet boys
ASHLAND, Maine — Trevor Hews has taken over as coach of the Ashland Hornets, and as the midway point of this season approaches, the team has kept its strong tradition alive.
Mark Stanley had been coach and led the team to a pair of berths in the Eastern Maine Class D finals in recent seasons, but he stepped down after he became the athletic director at Ashland District School.
So far this year, Ashland holds a 5-2 record and has the look of a solid playoff contender once again.
“I’m just looking to help the program continue its winning ways,” Hews said. “The past few years, we have had a very successful program with another good team this year.”
The Hornets have had to make up for the loss of three cornerstones on the 2014 squad which made it into the regional championship. Cody Blair, who scored 41 goals last season, graduated along with a pair of other four-year starters in center midfielder Michael Cook and sweeper Mark Chasse.
This year’s starting group includes five seniors, three which play key positions on defense. Timmy Tarr is back as the goalkeeper, with Alex Lewin moving to sweeper and Airin Harmon playing the stopper back slot.
Sophomores man the wing fullback positions, with Mason Moro playing on the left side and Drew Condon on the right.
At midfield, senior Jarrett Beaulier is transitioning from being a forward a year ago to the vacancy at center mid created by the loss of Cook. Classmate Ben Philbrook is the left mid and junior Lucas Craig plays right mid.
Sophomore Kyle Beaulier is the striker and is joined by classmates Isaiah McIntyre at left wing and Alex Keiser at right wing.
Freshmen Dylan Hailey and Jesse Wortman and sophomore Mason Deabay see a bulk of the action off the bench. Other reserves include junior Michael White, sophomores Steven Bellanceau, Rylee Albert, Parker O’Clair, Bailey Clark and Reggie Berry; and freshmen Daniel Wortman and Jonathan Howes.
Bellanceau is the team’s back-up goalkeeper.
“Overall we are a pretty young and inexperienced team, but this team has a lot potential to play well and make a playoff run,” Hews said. “We had to replace almost our entire center of the field and so all the changes to our lineup compared to last year have been our biggest challenge.
“We have a team of players who can help fill some of those areas and we have some fast players who can put pressure on the other team and create scoring opportunities quickly,” he added.
Lendell Tarr and Glen Condon are the assistant coaches and Jack Routhier is the manager.
“The keys to our season being a success are just continuing to mature and for our players to become comfortable playing together,” Hews added. “We have a few playing in positions they are not used to and so their development is key to how far this team can go.”
