HODGDON, Maine — Faced with a bit of adversity, the Hodgdon boys soccer team turned to a freshman goalie to anchor the Hawks defense at a crucial moment in the season.
With the team’s regular starting goalie inactive, Hodgdon boys coach Jason Little looked to freshman Drew Duttweiler to handle the net duties for Friday’s Class D North prelim game against visiting Woodland.
Colton Folsom uses the back of his head to redirect the ball during Friday’s Class D North quarterfinal game against Woodland. Hodgdon won 3-0.
(Staff Photo/Joseph Cyr)
Duttweiler, and the Hawks collectively, rose to the occasion as No. 4 Hodgdon shut out No. 13 Woodland, 3-0 Friday afternoon. The Hawks (13-1-1) will now face No. 5 Easton (10-3-2) after the Bears beat No. 12 Southern Aroostook 6-0 in the quarterfinals Saturday. That game will be played at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30.
Sophomore Josh McGillicuddy gave the Hawks an early 1-0 lead as he drilled a goal past Woodland keeper Aldon Bacon with 14:40 to play in the first half on a well-executed header. Senior Josh Foster scored two second-half goals, including a penalty kick, to provide a bit of insurance for the Hawks.
Josh McGillicuddy, right, of Hodgdon and Dylan Thompson of Woodland battle for the ball during Friday’s Class D North prelim game. Hodgdon won 3-0.
(Staff Photo/Joseph Cyr)
“I always practice for one spot, but I could tell by the way the goalie was set up I had to go to the opposite corner,” Foster said. “I learned from Jimmy Buzzell (a former Hodgdon player) a few years ago to do weird feet placement so that way they (the goalie) can’t tell where I am going to kick it.”
Duttweiler was sensational in goal for the Hawks in his first full game as the team’s keeper. During the regular season, he mostly played goalie for the junior varsity team, but did see a bit of action in a couple of regular seasons contest in relief of Michael Sanders.
Duttweiler made 10 saves on 10 shots, while Bacon had 13 saves on 22 shots for the Dragons.
“I was very nervous,” he said. “But it feels great. The team stepped up and took a little bit of the pressure off of me and that is exactly what I wanted.”
Lofting a kick is Hodgdon’s Kyle Carver as Woodland’s Devon Wilder (back to) defends during Friday’s Class D North prelim game. Hodgdon won 3-0.
(Staff Photo/Joseph Cyr)
Hodgdon coach Jason Little, who is now 2-2 in postseason games for the Hawks, was pleased with the effort from all of his players, particularly the young goalie.
“To have a freshman come in, who hasn’t really played all that much, he did phenomenal,” Little said. “He had confidence in goal today, which is what we needed from him.”
Hodgdon’s Josh Foster makes a move around a pair of Woodland defenders during Friday’s Class D North prelim soccer game in Hodgdon. The Hawks were victorious 3-0.
(Staff Photo/Joseph Cyr)
