FORT FAIRFIELD, Maine — They needed overtime, but the Tiger boys’ soccer team earned the opportunity to play for Class D state soccer championship with a win in the regional finals held last Wednesday.
Fort Fairfield spoiled Bangor Christian’s chance to advance to the state finals for the seventh consecutive year with a 2-1 victory.
The Tigers found themselves behind just 4:47 into the contest, but battled back with a second-half goal to tie it and the game-winner 3:26 into the second overtime.
For the second consecutive game, freshman forward Jonah Daigle provided the heroics. Five days after scoring the only goal in the semifinal victory over Central Aroostook, Daigle did it again in the final in similar fashion, beating a defender down the right side and from near the end line, toeing in a shot that found the back of the net.
“He’s an animal … he just battles and comes out winning balls,” said Fort Fairfield junior center midfielder Ryan Player, who assisted on Daigle’s goal.
“[Jonah] was fatigued at the end, but he continued to put the pressure on,” said Tiger coach John Ala. “I don’t know how many 50-50 balls he won, but his effort definitely helped us get a win.”
Johnathan Cormier had given No. 2 Bangor Christian (15-2) the early lead by skimming a beautifully placed corner kick by John Palmeter off his head and into the net.
With 33:46 left in the second half, Fort Fairfield sophomore Isaac Cyr dribbled in and ripped a left-footed shot from the top of the 18-yard line inside the left post and past a diving Austin Keib.
Fort dominated play throughout the second half and the overtime periods, as evidenced by a 16-5 advantage in shots on goal.
Keib finished with five saves on 20 shots, while the Tigers’ Dalton Cassidy saved six of 12.
It is the Tigers’ first regional title since 1976 and snapped a streak of six in a row for the Patriots, who also won five state championships during the stretch.
“They have no weaknesses anywhere,” said Patriot coach Aaron Wilcox, who praised the Tiger defense for its job marking up BC’s high-scoring sophomore, Tyler Welch. Fort Fairfield junior Chris Giberson had the assignment.
“We like to possess it as much as possible and we didn’t do a very good job of that today,” Wilcox added, “but in a lot of spurts they outplayed us and I thought they were more hungry.
