HOULTON, Maine — The Houlton boys and girls soccer programs have enjoyed a hot start to the fall sports season, which could bode well for the teams’ playoff hopes.
The Houlton girls sport an unblemished 4-0 record through the first few weeks of the season. The defending state Class C champs are currently ranked third in the Maine Principals’ Association Heal Points standings behind Fort Kent (3-1-1) and Dexter (5-0).
Houlton beat Madawaska 4-1 Aug. 30; defeated Mattanawcook Academy 5-1 Sept. 4; bested Calais 8-1 Sept. 7; and defeated Lee Academy 10-0 Sept. 14.
Under the guidance of 14th year coach Tim Tweedie, the Shires success this season is astounding considering the team graduated nine players (including seven starters) from last year’s state championship squad. That bunch included Kolleen Bouchard, who led the team with a whopping 37 goals, including the lone goal in the Shires 1-0 victory over Madison in the state Class C soccer championship.
For coach Tweedie, however, last year is now in the past as his focus is solely on the players on the field. This year, Houlton has just two seniors on the roster, but they are both key players. Tessa Solomon is the team’s starting goalie, while Jamie Brown is strong along the front line. Both athletes have received All-Penobscot Valley Conference accolades for their play.
“We’ll need them to help shoulder some of the burden while we get everyone else up to speed,” coach Tweedie said. “Their ability to lead by example has been great, thus far.”
The other two returning starters are juniors Sierra Hoops and Amelia Ivey. Hoops is the top returning scorer from last year’s team. She had 12 goals and she also led last year’s team in assists, with 11.
“Amelia is a two year starter at midfield, but, having graduated all four defensive starters from last year, Amelia will transition to a center back to help provide some stability in the back,” Tweedie said. “I’m counting on big things from these two.”
In addition, the Shires have a solid number of returning sophomores and juniors that are being asked to expand their roles and will also be counting on big things from this freshmen class.
The remaining Shire roster features senior Grace Johnson; juniors Elizabeth Phillips, Samantha Condon, Abbie Worthley, Maddie Grant and Kennedy Buzzeo; sophomores Victoria Forbush, Emma Ardell and Rebecca Howe; and freshmen Samantha Johnson, Isabella Ardell, Olivia Henderson, Mia Henderson, Breanne Barton, and Elena Ardell.
“The jump from middle school to varsity soccer is not an easy one, but, many of these kids have put in a great summer and have done everything possible to prepare themselves for the season,” coach Tweedie said of the large freshmen group. “They showed up to all of the summer soccer, attended summer soccer camp, and are unafraid to ask questions when they are unfamiliar with something.”
“Overall, at this point, we’re just trying to learn on the fly,” he added. “It’s not an easy task to replace 7 starters, but, if any group is up for the challenge, it is this one. We’re once again setting the bar high and hope to peak come playoff time. In between now and then will be a lot of learning and growing.”
The boys team is also off to a hot start to its season, with a 5-0-1 record as of Tuesday morning. Houlton opened the season with a 2-2 tie with Madawaska Aug. 30 but since then has outscored the opposition 45-4 in the past five games.
Houlton beat Mattanawcook Academy 11-0 Sept. 5; defeated Calais 12-2 Sept. 7; outlasted Orono 3-2 Sept. 10; beat Lee Academy 5-0 Sept. 14; and blanked MA 14-0 Monday.
The Shires have a new head coach in Brian Barton, who took over the program from Caleb Byron.
The boys roster features seniors Alex Wilde, Nolan Porter, Ben Grant and Cameron Cram; juniors Eli Bulley, Cameron Callnan, Nathan DeLucca, Jaron Gentle, Keegan Gentle and Drew Seder; sophomores Drew Foley, Hunter Sennett, Logan Swallow and Caelib West; and freshmen Gage Bartlett, Isaiah Gentle and Jadon Gentle.
Barton served as the varsity girls soccer coach in Hodgdon for three seasons (2012-2014). In his final year with the club, Barton guided the Hawks to a 5-9 regular season record and qualified for the postseason as the No. 13 seed. The Hawks fell that year to No. 4 Washburn in the preliminary round.
Barton left the Hodgdon post to take a job as a middle school girls soccer at Houlton and has assisted with the varsity girls soccer team for the past two seasons.
“It is going to be a tough year losing eight seniors (to graduation),” Barton said at the time he was hired as the varsity coach. “We will be looking for someone to step up and be the leader for this team. My goal is to improve on last year and continue to develop the Houlton boys soccer program.”
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- Shire Breanna Barton, right, makes a move with her left foot to juke out Lee Academy’s Audrey Peters during Friday’s girls soccer contest. Barton had four goals as the Shires rolled to a 10-0 victory. (Joseph Cyr)
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- Houlton’s Hunter Sennett, left, is one of several younger players for the Shires who has had a hot start to the season. Houlton is now 5-0-1 on the year and won its last to games by a combined 19-0. (Joseph Cyr)
