WASHBURN, Maine — Mark Shea brings plenty of prior coaching experience to his new role in leading the Washburn boys varsity soccer team, and his main priority is sharpening a defense that allowed an average of 6.5 goals per game a season ago.
“That is going to be the first area in which we look to improve,” said Shea, whose previous coaching gigs included the Caribou boys varsity for 10 years, the Caribou girls varsity for three and the Caribou Middle School girls for another five.
Shea was hired earlier this month to replace Ben Goodwin, who stepped down to accept an administrative position at Caribou High School.
“I’ve only had a handful of training sessions with the boys, but our main focus has been on improving our organization on defense,” Shea said. “Chiefly, we are trying to communicate with each other more, and have a better understanding of positioning as well as what we do with the ball when we get it.”
The Beavers are coming off a season in which they went 5-9, but 13 players return as they strive toward an improved record and a playoff berth.
“We have a strong core of veterans who will be looked upon to take us to the next level, along with a promising group of freshmen who will be looking to make an immediate impact,” Shea said.
Senior Derek Cruz and sophomore Mitchell Dow are contenders for the starting job in goal. Shea said both are blessed with good size and “plenty of bravery,” attributes that he said come in handy at that position.
Senior captain Braden Elliott anchors the defense and is joined by juniors Justin Gagnon and Castor Mendoza, sophomores Jacob Doak, Hunter Campbell and Damien DuMont and freshmen Mitchell Hewitt and Ben Harris.
In the midfield, senior Kaiden Rosi-Carney and junior Roegan Rosi-Carney are captains and vocal leaders who Shea will count on to set the tone both on offense and defense. Senior Chris Tardie, who led the team in scoring in 2021, also plays midfield along with juniors Ayden Mulder and Brian Cruz, sophomore Jack Tate and freshman Gage Espling.
Freshmen Brayden Worsley, Garrett Plourde and Colt Curtis will be the attackers. Despite their youth, Shea said the trio is athletic and ready to compete at the high school level.
“I think with a little more training, we will really start to settle into the patterns of play that will lead to goal-scoring opportunities,” said the coach.
Shea added that he could tell early on that the team is committed to one another, dedicated to improving every day and ultimately wants to compete to the best of their ability and win games.
Washburn opens its schedule at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19, with a home match against Madawaska.
