WASHBURN, Maine — Maine’s first regular season varsity soccer matches were played Friday and the Central Aroostook Panthers were able to post victories over the Washburn Beavers in both girls’ and boys’ action.
Freshman Libby Grass and sophomore Kate Levesque scored two goals each in CA’s 4-2 victory. Grass converted a Breann Bradbury assist for the first goal of the match 14:39 in and the Panthers took that 1-0 lead into intermission.
-
- Kate Levesque of Central Aroostook, left, and Washburn’s Alexis Carney battle for possession during Friday’s varsity soccer match in Washburn. (Kevin Sjoberg)
-
- Taylor Campbell of the Central Aroostook Panthers has a clear path to the goal as the Beavers’ Colby Hewitt tries to catch up during Friday’s match in Washburn. CA registered a 17-0 victory in the mutual season opener. (Kevin Sjoberg)
Freshman Madison Miller knotted the score for the Beavers 5:25 into the second half, but Levesque gave her team the lead off an assist from Grass just over five minutes later. Grass scored off a Levesque pass with 23:27 to go and Levesque contributed an unassisted goal 12 minutes later to put CA comfortably in front.
Freshman Kyli Farley scored a second goal for Washburn with just under three minutes to play to account for the final margin.
“I thought our effort level was good throughout the entire game,” said Panther coach Joe Levesque. “We did struggle finishing though and have a lot of work to do in order to get where we need to be.”
Breanne Bradbury of the Panthers controls the ball near the sideline as Washburn’s Emma Johnston approaches during Friday’s match in Washburn. (Kevin Sjoberg)
Caitlyn Harris finished with six saves on nine shots in goal for CA, while Julia Dahlgren made 22 saves while facing 30 shots for the Beavers.
Washburn coach Marcie Barbarula said the Panthers posed a huge challenge in the opening game with their team speed, but noted that her young squad, which has just six returning players, performed well.
“We knew marking up was going to be a key and have focused on that the past couple weeks,” Barbarula said. “The girls impressed me with their hard work, communication on the field and never giving up.”
In the boys’ game, the Panthers exploded for 14 first-half goals en route to the 17-0 shutout victory.
Hunter Wardwell scored four of his team-leading five goals in the first half. Hayden Kingsbury, Ethan Pryor and Ben Thomas added two goals apiece, with Thomas scoring one of his on a penalty kick.
Bryan Anthony, Brayden Bradbury, Zach O’Leary, Sam Brewer, Caleb Harris and Taylor Campbell netted a goal apiece for the winners. Josh Thomas paced CA with a pair of assists.
Bradbury and Lane Grass each played a half in goal and each recorded a save while facing two shots.
Josh Jackson and Patrick Tardie shared the goalkeeping responsibilities for Washburn.
The teams will meet again in Mars Hill Sept. 21.
-
- Washburn’s Samantha White, left, and Central Aroostook’s Jenna Rusby await the ball during Friday’s varsity soccer match in Washburn. (Contributed photo/David Abernathy)
-
- Ethan Pryor scored this goal late in the first half of Central Aroostook’s 17-0 victory over Washburn Friday. Playing defense for the Beavers are Dylan Henry and Aiden Churchill (2). (Kevin Sjoberg)
