PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Going against a strong wind in the first half provided a stiff test for the Presque Isle Wildcats’ defense Thursday in the Class B North quarterfinal matchup played at home against Brewer.
It ended up being one test the Wildcats passed in impressive fashion.
The top-seeded Wildcats (12-1-2) kept the Witches off the scoreboard throughout the first 40 minutes, limiting them to only four shot attempts, en route to a 3-0 victory at a frigid Gehrig Johnson Athletic Complex which saw wind chills hover around 20 degrees.
Wildcat junior Clara Kohlbacher celebrates a goal as Brewer’s Riley Umel watches during the first half of Thursday’s Class B North quarterfinal soccer match in Presque Isle. (Joseph Cyr)
Goalkeeper Savannah Rodriguez made all three of her saves and defenders Liz Collins, Molly Kingsbury, Emma Kohlbacher, Lydia Miller and Jenna Sargent helped prevent any quality chances with their stout play
Presque Isle received a huge bonus as it was able to muster a goal with 9:19 to play before intermission as Libby Moreau sent a cross from the right side to Clara Kohlbacher, who was open in front of the net and sent it past Brewer goalkeeper Libby Hewes. Even going against the wind, Presque Isle outshot Brewer 8-4 in the opening half.
With the wind at their backs in the second half, Wildcat junior Paige McHatten put in a pair of insurance goals and the Witches only got one shot off as the home team advanced to take on No. 4 Medomak Valley on Saturday at 3 p.m. in Presque Isle.
PI coach Ralph Michaud, who said that was the coldest game he had been involved with in his 30-plus years of coaching, credited Hewes for her effort in goal and the Brewer defense for keeping Madison Michaud, who entered the game with 35 goals, from scoring.
“They really did a good job of doubling her and sometimes triple-teaming her,” Michaud said. “That’s why our first goal by Clara against the wind was so important.”
Hewes made some excellent saves throughout and finished with 16 in the match. Brewer finished its season with an 11-5 record as the eighth seed. It was the second consecutive year the Witches were eliminated by PI in the playoffs.
PI next takes on No. 4 Medomak Valley of Waldoboro Saturday at 3 p.m. in the semifinals. That game will be held at the Gehrig Johnson Athletic Complex.
-
- Brewer’s Melaina Eaton does a slide tackle against Presque Isle Libby Moreau during Thursday’s quarterfinal match played at the Gehrig Johnson Athletic Complex. (Joseph Cyr)
-
- Clara Kohlbacher of the Wildcats, left, gets out ahead of Brewer’s Maria Low as she falls to the turf during the quarterfinal soccer match in Presque Isle Thursday. (Joseph Cyr)
-
- Wildcat junior Clara Kohlbacher celebrates a goal as Brewer’s Riley Umel watches during the first half of Thursday’s Class B North quarterfinal soccer match in Presque Isle. (Joseph Cyr)
