MARS HILL, Maine — They have dominated the Class D North standings so far, with a 10-0 record thanks to a scoring margin of 76-2 entering Friday’s home game against Southern Aroostook.
Now comes the hard part for the first place Central Aroostook boys’ soccer team — figuring out how to overcome the challenges of the three-week harvest break to try to be at its best entering the playoffs.
“We’re really trying to push ourselves in practice, especially through harvest,” said senior midfielder Ben Thomas. “We have struggled in past years [after the break], but our school has never won a championship in soccer and to know we are capable this year is our motivation.”
School is back in session Oct. 9 and the team will play three games in a four-day span to close out the regular season, with the playoffs getting underway the following week.
Central Aroostook’s Alex Toby, left, and Hodgdon’s Kyle Carver contend for the ball during an Aug. 29 boys soccer game in Hodgdon. The Panthers hold a 10-0 record and No. 1 ranking in Class D North.
(Joseph Cyr)
The Panthers’ current routine with school out includes daily two-hour evening practices during the week. Coach Wallace Endy said about half of the players on the team work in the potato fields all day, but attendance has been good and the the intention of these workouts is “to just keep everyone’s legs moving, getting them touches with the ball and getting in some cardiovascular work.”
“I also just like to stay in touch with the kids and make sure they are getting their rest and proper nutrition,” Endy said.
Central Aroostook, which reached the regional finals last season but lost 1-0 to Bangor Christian, has made things look easy through the first 10 games this fall. The closest match so far has been a 4-1 win at Madawaska, currently ranked second in the division. The Panthers have allowed only one other goal all season while out matching their opponents.
“Honestly, we just have a lot of skill,” Thomas said. “This is a team in which half of our starting lineup could be all-stars.”
Endy previously coached the Panthers from 2008-2010, then served as a varsity assistant and then the middle school coach before returning for his second stint a varsity coach last fall. He has been especially impressed with the versatility of a number of the team’s players and a steady improvement in the passing game.
“We’re still growing,” Endy said. “We learn something new every day and are always trying to get better.”
Defense has been a bright spot for CA, led by junior goalkeeper Brayden Bradbury, who has totaled eight shutouts.
“He’s very athletic and very determined,” Endy said. “Brayden is a guy who could play well anywhere on the field for us.”
The squad’s backline is a makeshift unit that Endy said has thrived so far. Seniors Lane Grass and Hardin Kearney, junior Ethan Pryor and sophomore Alex Toby are the starters, with sophomores Grayson McKenney and Malachi Fitzherbert earning some time off the bench.
Thomas said Grass “is very, very good” at the sweeper position and that Kearney is a smart player. Endy said Kearney didn’t play soccer until his sophomore season, but “I’ve worked with him and he’s continued to develop.”
Toby took the last two seasons off but returned to the sport and “is playing tough,” according to the coach. Pryor played offense his first two seasons but has adjusted well to the stopper position.
Thomas centers the midfield group which also includes junior Jacob Carvell and Zach O’Leary. Thomas is a workhorse who provides scoring punch, while Carvell and O’Leary are underrated players who aren’t afraid to pinch back and help on defense.
The front line is led by senior striker Hunter Wardwell, who scored 32 goals last year and is on pace to reach that figure again.
“He has a good IQ for the game and has explosiveness, quickness and determination, all that in a package,” Endy said.
Junior Hayden Kingsbury is another offensive threat, with 15 goals so far. Sophomore Bryan Anthony starts on a wing and Josh Thomas, another sophomore, sees plenty of action in a reserve role.
The remainder of the roster includes junior Sam Brewer, sophomore Samuel Rowe and freshmen James Keenan, Frank Kearney and Lucas Haines. The managers are Lance Morin and Mersaydez Johnson.
“We really just want to stay injury free and continue to play together,” Endy said. “We need to stay focused and not get complacent with the wins we’ve had so far.
“We know we might see lower scoring games in the playoffs and that we still have better teams to meet. By being at the top, everyone is coming at us with their best game,” he said.
