FORT KENT, Maine — Senior night on Friday proved to be an exciting one, as the Ashland Hornets visited the Warriors for Fort Kent’s final regular season home game of the year, and pulled off an upset 1-1 tie.
“It was a hard-fought game,” said Ashland head coach Trevor Hewes.
Dylan Haley moves in to receive a pass for Ashland during his team’s match at Fort Kent Friday. The Hornets played the Warriors to a 1-1 draw. (Don Eno)
The stands were overflowing with fans from both communities. The girls’ teams from both schools played the second match of the doubleheader on Friday, with Ashland pulling out the 2-1 win.
In the boys’ match, Drew Condon’s boot from way outside the 18-yard box midway through the first half stunned the Warriors and put Ashland ahead, 1-0.
Both teams hustled for loose balls and pushed play downfield. The tenacity of the Hornets was matched by the crisp passing and set pieces from the Warriors, although For Kent was unable to find the back of the net.
Fort Kent outshot Ashland 24 to 10, but Ashland keeper Steven Bellanceau always seemed to be in the right spot.
A controversial foul inside the Ashland box with less than nine minutes remaining in regulation, led to a Fort Kent penalty kick. Warrior penalty kick specialist Noah Martin then scored, tying it 1-1.
The teams played through a scoreless first overtime. In the second five-minute period, the Warriors kept the pressure on, forcing the Ashland leeper to make quality saves.
Bellanceau made an incredible finger tip save, sending the ball just clear of the top bar, with less than two minutes remaining in the final overtime session. He then scooped up one last shot from Fort Kent, sealing the tie for Ashland.
“It was exciting,” Bellanceau said following the game. “It was a good game.”
“They came and played like they wanted it more,” said Warrior head coach Oniqueky Samuels. “We had good chances, but it went right to their keeper each time.”
Fort Kent’s Ethan Bouley and Reece Pelletier combined for six saves on 10 shots. Bellanceau tallied 15 saves on 24 shots.
The Warriors dropped to 10-1-2 with the tie, but remain at the top on the Class C North table. Ashland improved to 5-5-2 and are in 14th place in Class D.
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- Steven Bellanceau makes the final save in goal for Ashland during Friday’s 1-1 draw with the home team Fort Kent Warriors. (Don Eno)
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- Ashland’s Dylan Haley tries to maneuver around Fort Kent’s Eden Paradis during Friday’s game at Fort Kent. (Don Eno)
