Local soccer teams continue their playoff journey either Friday or Saturday.
In Class C North, No. 5 Houlton (7-6-1) travels to No. 4 Dexter (7-5-2) for a 1 p.m. quarterfinal contest Friday. The two teams were supposed to play earlier in the week, but the heavy rain postponed the game both Wednesday and Thursday. The two squads did not meet during the regular season.
“While both teams have not played each other during the regular season, I have been able to find out some [tips] about Dexter,” Houlton coach Caleb Byron said. “Playing on their small field will challenge us to find different ways to move the ball, and the wetness will force us to have a good first touch.”
Dexter has two players who the Shires will need to mark and shut down, and the team will rely on its offense to make big plays against Dexter. “I have full confidence that if we play smart, team soccer that we will be playing Fort Kent [in the semifinals] on Monday,” Byron said.
The top-ranked Houlton girls (14-1) take on No. 4 Orono (11-3-1) Saturday at 4 p.m. in the semifinals. Featuring a rematch of last year’s regional championship, Houlton is looking to beat Orono for the third time this season — having won 3-2 at home and 3-0 in Orono.
“For us, Orono is a very strong opponent,” Houlton coach Tim Tweedie said. “We were the only team to beat them when they were healthy. During their only other loss, they were resting some players with nagging injuries. They’re the two time defending state champions for a reason. They’re very skilled and very well coached.”
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- Paige McHatten (20) of the Wildcats heads the ball against Brewer’s MacKenzie Dore (20) and Elizabeth Horr (2), as Presque Isle’s Rhylee Kinney watches during the Class B North quarterfinal played Tuesday, Oct. 24, at the Johnson Athletic Complex in Presque Isle. Presque Isle hosts Waterville in the semifinal round Saturday at 2 p.m. (Contributed photo/Dave Allen Graphics)
The keys to a Houlton victory will include winning the ball out of the air and attacking with speed, the coach added. “Having nine seniors on our team, we have a lot of veteran leadership. This will be the 10th playoff game for these seniors, so by this point, we know what to do, it’s just a matter of getting it done. I also like our fitness. We’ve really had a sizable fitness advantage in the second half of most of our games. We’re hoping to physically wear on Orono and we hope that our big field contributes to a fitness advantage for us.”
Central Aroostook hosts Penobscot Valley of Howland Friday at 5:30 p.m. in Mars Hill in a Class D boys’ semifinal. The Panthers are the No. 2 seed and are coming off a 9-0 victory over MSSM in Tuesday’s quarterfinal matchup, while the No. 6 Howlers upset third-ranked Woodland in their quarterfinal.
The Presque Isle girls are No. 2 in Class B North and host No. 6 Waterville Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Johnson Athletic Complex in another semifinal. The Wildcats topped seventh-seeded Brewer, 3-1, in the quarterfinal round Tuesday, while Waterville defeated No. 3 Winslow to earn the opportunity to advance.
In the Class D girls’ semifinals, Ashland will host Bangor Christian Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Johnson Athletic Complex in Presque Isle as Ashland’s field is unplayable. The Hornets, ranked second, blanked No. 10 Katahdin in the quarters Tuesday, 10-0, while the sixth-seeded Patriots upset No. 3 Southern Aroostook, 2-1, in a match Tuesday decided by penalty kicks.
The regional championship games will be played Wednesday, Nov. 1, and are hosted by the higher seeded teams at times still to be determined. The state championship game will be played Saturday, Nov. 4. Deering High School in Portland will host the Class B and C games, while the Class D games will be held at Hampden Academy.
