The Central Aroostook Panthers received a tie-breaking goal from Hayden Kingsbury with 27:16 left in the match and it held up as coach Wallace Endy’s squad advanced to the regional championship in Class D North with a 2-1 win over Penobscot Valley of Howland Friday in Mars Hill.
CA will play Bangor Christian, a 1-0 winner over Fort Fairfield that afternoon, in Wednesday’s title game to be played in Bangor.
Central Aroostook goalkeeper Brayden Bradbury makes the save on a loose ball in front of his goal as PVHS’s Carson Greye challenges during the first half of the Class D North semifinal played in Mars Hill Friday. (Courtesy/Dave Allen Graphics)
The No. 2 Panthers opened the scoring with an own goal credited to Taylor Campbell in the first half before Brad McKechnie tied it for the sixth-ranked Howlers early in the second half.
Brayden Bradbury collected three saves on seven shots for the winners, who improved to 15-1, while Elijah Wood had seven saves on 21 shots for PVHS (11-4-2).
CA’s upcoming opponent, Bangor Christian, defeated the Tigers as Dean Grass’s goal off Luke Chandler’s assist 6:10 into the second half was all the No. 1-ranked Patriots needed.
The defense did the rest as it allowed Fort Fairfield to take only two shots the entire game, with Austin Keib saving one of them for the shutout.
Malcolm Langner saved two of 15 shots in goal for the Tigers, which finished up at 13-4 as the No. 4 seed in the division.
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- Fort Fairfield’s Chris Gill left moves the ball between Bangor Christian’s Jack York and Christian Boone (right) during Friday’s Class D playoff game at Husson University in Bangor. (BDN photo/Pete Warner)
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- Jonah Daigle (11) of Fort Fairfield heads a corner kick out of the goalmouth among a crowd of players during Friday’s Class D North soccer semifinal against Bangor Christian at Husson University. (BDN photo/Pete Warner)
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- Dylan Jandreau (12) of Fort Fairfield knocks the ball away from Bangor Christian’s Luke Chandler during the second half of Friday’s Class D North soccer semifinal game at Husson University in Bangor. (BDN photo/Pete Warner)
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- Central Aroostook’s Ethan Pryor goes up for a head ball against PVHS defender Brad McKechnie during the first half of the Class D North boys’ semifinal match played Friday in Mars Hill. (Courtesy/Dave Allen Graphics)
