HOULTON, Maine — A small, but eager group of youths turned out Sunday afternoon for the annual Elks Soccer Shoot, sponsored by the Houlton Lodge of Elks BPOE No. 835.
About 30 children participated in this year’s event, held at the Houlton Middle-High School soccer field.
Ellie Berthiaume kicks a soccer ball toward the goal Sunday afternoon at the Houlton Elks annual Soccer Shootout. Berthiaume won the girls under 8 division. (Joseph Cyr)
Mike Hannigan, exalted ruler for the Houlton Lodge, said he was pleased with the turnout for Sunday’s event, adding while there were several familiar faces back for another year, there also were many new youngsters attending.
A change was made to this year’s event, as only those contestants in the youngest age category, under age 8, were eligible to use the “five-goal” competition. In that contest, each competitor had three attempts to kick a youth-size soccer ball through each of five different size goals, ranging from 48 inches wide to 17 inches wide, from a distance of 15 feet. Increasing points were awarded for successful kicks as the goals become smaller.
Contestants in all three older age categories, attempted 15 kicks from various distances — 18 feet from the goal for the 8-9 age group; 27 feet from the goal for the 10-11 age group; and 30 feet from the goal for the 12-13 age group — into a traditional soccer goal lined with a grid. More points were awarded for kicks in the segments of the goal that are tougher to defend, such as the upper corners, the top and the extreme sides.
Winners on the day were as follows:
– Girls Under 8: Ellie Berthiaume; Boys Under 8: Kemper Hipsley
– Girls Under 10: Allison Worthley; Boys Under 10: Raiden Cochran
– Girls Under 12: Amelia Callnan; Boys Under 12: Mark Thibodeau III
– Girls Under 14: Mataya Pinette; Boys Under 14: No Participants.
The seven winners are eligible to compete in the Elks Maine North District Soccer Shoot contest, to be held in Bangor on Sunday, Sept. 30.
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- Houlton Elks Lodge Exalted Ruler Mike Hannigan, right, goes over the instructions for area youth during Sunday afternoon’s soccer shoot contest in Houlton. Seven youths advanced to the regional event. (Joseph Cyr)
