Hornet girls not looking past any team
as they shoot for second straight title
ASHLAND, Maine — Coach Peter Belskis is well aware that he has a special group of players who have the potential to get back into the state championship game for the second consecutive year, but he knows the task will not be easy.
The Hornets, who defeated Richmond last year in the Class D state title game, has not suffered any letdowns so far in 2015.
The dominance of this year’s version of the Ashland girls’ soccer team has been evident. No. 1-ranked Ashland has gone 14-0 and outscored its opponents by a whopping margin of 119-4 during the regular season. Goalkeeper Megan Cote and the group of stout defenders registered 10 shutouts, including six in a row to end the regular season, which was capped by Friday’s 12-0 romp of Hodgdon.
The Hornets have now won 35 regular season matches in a row, a streak which dates back to September of 2013.
Despite those impressive statistics, Belskis knows things won’t come as easily in the post-season, which will begin for his team next Tuesday, Oct. 27 with the Class D North quarterfinal round.
“Our expectations are high, but the competition level will be tough,” he admits. “We can’t look by anybody and that is why I always do a lot of preparing for any team we may face. I want my kids to be ready, no matter who the opponent is.”
Belskis said the division got tougher since last year with the move by Madawaska from Class C. The Owls, with a 10-2-1 record heading into a match played yesterday in Caribou, appear to have the No. 3 slot wrapped up. The two clubs did not face one another during the regular season.
There is also Penobscot Valley of Howland to contend with. The Howlers, who were 13-0 heading into their regular season finale yesterday against Penquis, were the Hornets’ opponent in last year’s regional final — a 1-0 Ashland victory.
Shead of Eastport and Fort Fairfield round out the division’s top five. Shead hadn’t lost a match until falling at Hodgdon Saturday, while the Tigers gave Ashland its toughest test of the season, a 3-2 game at Fort Fairfield Sept. 15.
Belskis said despite his team’s dominance this year, Ashland has had many occasions when it went the first 15 or 20 minutes of a match without scoring. He would like to see that change in the playoffs.
“I’d like to see us get off to better starts,” Belskis said. “It seems like the longer a game goes, that is when we start to figure out the opponents’ weaknesses. The girls are able to keep an even keel, which is good, but we don’t want teams to hang around too long.”
Ashland’s offense is powered by the threesome of seniors Savannah Flint and Caitlin Paradis and sophomore Mackenzie Carter. Flint is the school’s all-time leading goal scorer and has 33 goals this season alone, to go along with 11 assists. Paradis has posted 25 goals and a team-best 16 assists, while Carter leads the Hornets in goals this year with 34, while also dishing out 14 assists.
“I’ve never coached a girls team with three great goal scorers like we have this year,” Belskis said. “We have so many weapons for other teams to contend with.”
Belskis knows in the post-season, however, it will come down to defense and he is confident his team will be up to the challenge.
Cote, who was injured in the state game against Richmond last year, has come back to put together another stellar season in goal. Sophomore Micayla Driscoll and senior Chelsea Vaillancourt are the wing backs, with senior Laura Sturgeon the four-year starter at stopper back and junior Cassidy Pelletier in her third season as the sweeper.
Paradis handles center midfield, while sophomore Alexis Craig and freshman Olivia Tardie get the nod as the midfield wings. The forwards are Flint, Carter and Morgan Doughty, who has chipped in with seven goals.
Freshman Kassandra Nelson is among the top reserves and has also scored seven goals. Other active players who serve as subs are senior Erica Cyr, juniors Sam Watt, Hannah Stratton and Gabby Wortman; sophomore Brianna Harris and freshmen Valerie Burby and Camryn Deabay.
Injured players are senior Cassie Bolstridge and sophomore Amber Chasse. Carly Fredericks is the manager and Holly Chasse is Belskis’ assistant.
“It’s definitely a special team and a special group of girls,” Belskis said. “I am ready to see how they’ll do as the playoffs approach. Our goal was to repeat and I know the expectations are high for us to do that, so we’ll see what happens.”
