With the season now past the halfway mark, local boys soccer teams are finally hitting their strides.
The Houlton boys, after suffering back-to-back losses this past week, have tumbled to the sixth spot in Class C North.
Matthew Potter, right, of East Grand shields the ball away from Hodgdon’s Nick Sherman during Tuesday’s soccer game in Hodgdon.
(Joseph Cyr)
The Shires are now 3-3-1 on the season. The top six teams earn a first-round bye in this region. Houlton will look to bounce back hosting Lee Academy Thursday and traveling to Orono Saturday.
For Class D North, Hodgdon (6-2-1) were the 10th seed as of Tuesday morning and would need to move up to at least the eighth seed if the team desires to host a preliminary playoff.
East Grand (2-5) were in the 14th (and final) playoff spot in this region. Katahdin (2-5) is 18th and Southern Aroostook (0-7) is 20th.
Hodgdon boys 1, Shead 1 — At Eastport Monday, the Hawks struck early as Wyatt Foster produced a first-half goal off an assist from Dylan Oliver. Shead’s Ethan Lank evened things up in the second-half and neither squad was able to crease the goal line through two overtime periods resulting in the tie.
Michael Sanders made 11 saves in goal for Hodgdon, while C.J. Francis made 22 saves for Shead (4-2-1).
Washburn 3, Katahdin 0 — Playing in Presque Isle Monday, Washburn’s Konner Jordan and Daniel Arce both tallied goals, and took advantage of Katahdin own goal to secure the team’s first win of the season.
Unleashing a kick Tuesday afternoon is Hodgdon’s Josh Foster as East Grand’s Lendin Stoddard Jr. defends. Approaching from behind is Viking Matthew Potter.
(Joseph Cyr)
Josh Jackson recorded the shutout in goal for the Beavers (1-11).
George Stevens Academy boys 2, Houlton 1 (OT) — On the road Saturday, the Houlton boys fell to undefeated GSA in overtime. Houlton’s Pat Howe scored first on an assist from Jaron Gentle with 25 minutes left in the second half. Taylor Schildroth scored for the Eagles with 13 minutes left in the game on a penalty kick to bring regulation to an even tie. Schildroth then scored the overtime goal with two minutes left for the win.
Drew Foley had 10 saves against 18 shots for Houlton and Alec Witham had 6 saves against 10 shots from the Shires.
Hodgdon’s Dylan Oliver, right, runs past East Grand’s Matthew Apgar as he pursues the ball during Tuesday’s soccer game in Hodgdon.
(Joseph Cyr)
Central Aroostook boys 10, Southern Aroostook 0 — The Panthers rolled to their ninth consecutive win to begin the season by shutting out the Warriors Saturday in Mars Hill. Hayden Kingsbury and Ethan Pryor had two goals each, while Sam Brewer, Caleb Harris, Taylor Campbell, Hunter Wardwell, Bryan Anthony and Sam Rowe tallied one each.
Brayden Bradbury recorded the shutout in goal. CA, in first place in Class D North, has now outscored its opponents by a 70-5 margin.
Hodgdon boys 5, East Grand 1 — At Danforth Friday, the Hawks soared to victory over East Grand. Josh Palmer and Dylan Oliver both scored two goals to lead the Hawks. Oliver also had two assists. Wyatt Foster added a solo goal and an assist, while Nick Sherman also had an assist.
For East Grand, Noah Sixberry scored the Vikings’ lone goal off an assist from Matthew Potter.
Ashland 6, Katahdin 0 — At Ashland Thursday, the Hornets rolled to the shutout victory over Katahdin to 3-4-1 on the year. The Hornets scored five times in the second half, with Alex Kaiser, Mason Moro, Mason Deabay, Brady Holmes and Weston Robinson all breaking through for goals. Dylan Haley scored in the first half off a Kaiser assist. Drew Doughty also had an assist for Ashland. Goalkeeper Steven Bellanceau saved one of three shots.
Viking Thomas Gillman right, soars into the air to head the ball alongside Hodgdon’s Wyatt Foster during Tuesday’s soccer game in Hodgdon.
(Joseph Cyr)
Katahdin’s Tanner Lane and Bradley Hotham combined to save 12 of 25 shots in goal. The Cougars’ record dropped to 2-4 on the season.
Shead 11, Southern Aroostook 1 — At Eastport Wednesday, Shead was victorious 11-1 as Damien Lank scored five goals. C.J. Francis added three goals and Austin Ashby had two. The final goal scorer for Shead was not reported. Hunter Walker tallied the lone goal for Southern Aroostook.
Francis and Lank shared net duties for the Tigers and combined for six saves on seven shots. Steven Rackliff had 25 saves on 38 shots for SA.
The Warriors fall to 0-5 on the season, while Shead improves to 4-1.
Hodgdon boys 4, East Grand 1 — At Hodgdon Tuesday, Wyatt Foster and Josh Foster each had two goals while Dylan Oliver added two assists to lift the Hawks past East Grand.
Michael Sanders and Josh Foster combined for six saves on eight shots for the Hawks.
Thomas Gilman scored the goal for East Grand, and Brady McEwen stopped eight of 20 shots.
