HOULTON, Maine — The Houlton girls soccer team may have a new head coach, but the results, so far, have been the same.
No. 3 Houlton (14-2 overall) punched their ticket to yet another Class C North regional championship following an exciting 1-0 semifinal victory Saturday over No. 7 Mt. View of Thorndike.
Houlton’s Sierra Hoops, right, tries to head the ball past Mt. View defender Lily Blake during Saturday’s Class C North semifinal. Houlton won 1-0.
(Staff Photo/Joseph Cyr)
“What a great game,” first-year coach Marina Cameron said. “We didn’t know much about Mt. View, but we knew it was going to be extremely tough. They play a tough Class B schedule and pretty much walked through their prelim and quarterfinals. We knew it would be a battle today.”
The Shires face a familiar foe in Tuesday’s championship game as No. 1 Fort Kent (13-1-2) has also advanced to the title match following a 6-1 victory over Bucksport also played Saturday.
Tuesday’s Class C North title game will be played at 5 p.m. on the artificial turf at Presque Isle Middle School, since the Class C boys championship will no longer be played in Presque Isle.
Houlton goalie Abbie Worthley, left, makes a sliding save as Mt. View”s Sage Pound attacks the ball during Saturday’s Class C North semifinal. Backing up the play is Houlton defender Samantha Condon. Houlton won 1-0.
(Staff Photo/Joseph Cyr)
The title game is a rematch of last year’s regional championship, a game that Fort Kent won 1-0. The Warriors went on to win the Class C state title last year. Houlton is the only team to beat Fort Kent on the season this year. The Shires were victorious 3-0 over Fort Kent in Houlton Oct. 12. The Warriors beat Houlton 3-1 Sept. 27 in Fort Kent.
Against Mt. View Saturday, Houlton’s Maddie Marino broke a scoreless tie three minutes into the second half as she snatched a crossing pass from Becca Howe for an open shot on the net.
Houlton’s back line of Amilia Ivey, Samantha Condon, Natalie Delucca and Howe were sensational in Saturday’s contest as they kept the pressure off of the Shires net. Houlton goalie Abbie Worthley finished with six saves on 18 shots. Her counterpart Zoe Mayhew made three saves on 16 shots.
Houlton’s Maddie Marino, middle, has the ball kicked away by Mt. View’s Taylor Hodgdon (25) during Saturdya’s Class C North semifinal. Looking on is Mt. View’s Lily Blake. Houlton beat Mt. View 1-0 to advance to the regional championship.
(Staff Photo/Joseph Cyr)
“I have to give a lot of credit to our sweepers Amelia and Natalie for keeping us in this game,” coach Cameron said.
“This was the hardest game I have had to work all year,” Ivey said following the game. “It was tough playing a team we had never seen before. They (Mt. View) were fast and physical. Hopefully that prepares us well for the next one.”
Houlton’s Sierra Hoops, left, contains the ball as Mt. View’s Sage Pound approaches from behind during Saturday’s Class C North semifinal. Houlton won 1-0.
(Staff Photo/Joseph Cyr)
