ASHLAND, Maine — The Hornet girls seem to always be in the upper echelon of the Class D soccer standings and this year appears to be no different thanks to a roster that includes both veteran and young talent.
Coach Peter Belskis is excited to see how his team performs. He knows last year’s regional champions, the Wisdom Pioneers, will again be the heavy favorite in the division.
“They are the team everyone is chasing, but we hope to be in the hunt,” Belskis said.
Ashland won 11 regular season matches in 2021 to place third. The team’s season ended with a 1-0 loss to Penobscot Valley in the semifinal round.
Ashland features a strong senior group, led by high-scoring forward Kayla McLean and defensive specialist Abby Cote.
McLean netted 25 goals last season and Belskis said she owns “a hammer of a shot.”
“She’s good with both feet and we’ll rely on her to set the bar for us,” Belskis said.
The coach said Cote, who will be a marking back, is geared to play defense and is tough, fundamentally sound, quick and aggressive.
Sweeper Darby Clark and defender/midfielder Kaili Condon are the other seniors in the starting lineup.
The strong junior group includes center back Abby Doughty, who scored 14 goals as a midfielder last year. Michaela Carney gets the nod at goalkeeper for the second straight year and is described by Belskis as agile and someone who plays angles well. Maggie Landeen is small in stature but is a hard worker who will be another marking back.
Sophomore Izzy Ayotte starts at halfback, while three freshmen round out the list of starters. Layla Burby and Emma Doughty will switch off between striker and center midfield and Macy McLean, Kayla’s younger sister, will play up front as a wing.
Coming off the bench will be junior Cailin Brown, sophomores Grace Routhier and Teagan Reese, freshmen Kalleigh Condon, Callie Cullins and Kirsten Wilcox; and eighth-grader Angel Hafford.
Cahley Buchheit will manage the Hornets, while Holly Chasse is back as Belskis’ assistant coach.
