The Fort Fairfield boys are picking up where they left off last fall, rolling to a pair of lopsided soccer victories to open the season.
The Tigers, the defending Class D state champions, eased past Central Aroostook last Tuesday, 9-1, and Van Buren Friday, 8-0. They faced their toughest test last night with a game at Class C Fort Kent and will play at Washburn Thursday before hosting Ashland Saturday.
Fort Fairfield had strong second halves in both victories, scoring 12 of its 17 goals after intermission.
Against the Panthers, Chris Gill tallied three goals and Chris Giberson, Ryan Player and Jonah Daigle had two each. Player picked up two assists and Colby Langner had one, while Malcolm Langner saved three of six shots in goal for the winners. Brayden Bradbury collected nine saves on 26 shots in goal for CA and Caleb Harris scored the Panthers’ lone goal with 1:27 to play in the first half.
In the win over Van Buren, Player had the hat trick, Jonah Daigle added a pair of goals and Solomon Daigle, Colby Langner and Dawson Watson netted one apiece.
The Fort Fairfield girls were blitzed by Central Aroostook in last Tuesday’s opener, 11-0, but bounced back for a 6-0 triumph over Van Buren Friday. In the win, Kayla Tisdale had three goals and Kailanny Hernandez notched one and set up three others. Gracie Griffeth and Emma Campbell also had FF goals to give first-year coach Jocelyn Carvell her first varsity victory. Emily Everitt faced only four shots and saved three to garner the shutout in goal.
Washburn was also able to pick up an easy win over the Van Buren girls in a game played last Wednesday. The Beavers gained their first win after opening with consecutive losses behind sophomore Kassie Farley, who broke free for five goals in the 10-1 victory. Skylar Mette, a freshman, had a hat trick and classmate Maggie Castonguay contributed a pair of goals. Castonguay started in goal but took to the field after Julia Dahlgren replaced her. Megan Caron had the Crusaders’ lone goal.
On Friday, Washburn made it two wins in a row after getting past Southern Aroostook, 3-1. The Warriors jumped out to the early lead before Farley knotted the game prior to halftime and Kristen Sarmiento and Mette added unanswered goals in the second half. Castonguay made nine saves on as many shots, while SA’s Marissa Boulier had a busier day in goal with 17 saves on 23 shots.
The Beaver boys played to a 2-2 deadlock with the Crusaders last Wednesday before losing at home to SA two days later, 2-1. Coach Ben Goodwin’s team took a 1-2-1 record into last night’s game against Central Aroostook in Mars Hill.
Caribou opens its slate Friday at home against Madawaska, with the boys’ game at 5 p.m. and the girls to follow at 7 p.m. On Aug. 30, 2016 the Vikings play their first road games at Fort Kent, with the girls’ teams matching up at 5 p.m. and the boys squaring off at 7 p.m.
LCS/MSSM will play its regular season openers Monday at Van Buren. The boys play at 5 p.m. and the girls at 7 p.m. Consecutive home games follow — Sept. 1 against Fort Kent and Sept. 2 against Wisdom — with the girls’ game at 5 p.m. and the boys’ game at 7 p.m. both days.
