PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — After a sluggish first half, the Wildcats girls’ varsity soccer team regrouped at intermission and behind the talent and leadership of its top offensive weapon and talented goalkeeper, found a way to win in overtime.
In Saturday’s Class B North semifinal played at the Gehrig Johnson Athletic Complex, Madison Michaud scored her 36th goal of the season with 3:11 remaining in the first overtime period, lifting Presque Isle to a 1-0 victory over No. 4-ranked Medomak Valley of Waldoboro and a berth in the regional championship game at home on Wednesday.
Presque Isle (13-1-2) will play the winner of Monday’s other semifinal between No. 2 Hermon and No. 3 Winslow.
The winning goal was made possible by a win of a 50-50 ball in the 18-yard box by junior Clara Kohlbacher. The ball was then directed to Michaud 10 yards out and “she did her magic,” according to coach Ralph Michaud.
Madison Michaud had been bottled up throughout the match and her coach said Medomak’s defense was the best his senior scoring ace had faced in her career.
“They had defenders all around her and wouldn’t let her move,” Ralph Michaud said, “but in the end she found a way again.”
Savannah Rodriguez, playing in her eighth game since returning to the field after suffering a torn ACL back on Sept. 1, was stellar in goal with seven saves and made some big ones, especially in the first half, to help keep her team in contention. The Wildcats have now shut out six consecutive opponents with Rodriguez back as the starter.
Medomak goalkeeper Kayla Donlin made six saves while facing 10 shots. The Panthers finished with a 9-4-3 record.
“They were big, strong and athletic and like many of the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference teams I’ve seen, they have girls who really strike the ball well,” coach Michaud said of his opponent. “I think we played a little scared in the first half but Madison and Savannah showed some great leadership and gave the girls a pep talk in the locker room and everyone responded.”
