EASTON, Maine — For the second consecutive year, the Easton Bears’ soccer roster includes only one senior. Last year it was Ben Currier and this year it is Ben Wipperman, another defensive player.
Despite the youthfulness, the team experienced success last fall by finishing sixth in the Class D North standings with a 10-4 record, then winning a preliminary game over Fort Fairfield before being eliminated in the quarterfinals by third-ranked Van Buren.
Expectations are high once again for the Bears, despite a roster that includes only 10 high school players who are currently cleared to play.
“We are obviously small in numbers, but this group wants to win,” said 14th-year coach Ryan Shaw. “They are extremely competitive and come to play. We talk every day about practicing hard enough that the games will seem easy.”
The team is led offensively by one of the top scorers in the region. Junior Owen Sweeney, who made the Maine Soccer Coaches’ Northern Maine State Team in 2021, posted 32 goals last year after tallying 30 as a freshman.
“He is a kid that is extremely passionate about the sport,” Shaw said. “He tries to get better each and every day and if you drive by his house, he is working on his game.
“Owen is an unselfish player who can play on both sides of the ball and makes his teammates better,” the coach added. “He is quick, very deceptive and scored a majority of his goals from the midfield position, where you don’t get a lot of easy opportunities.”
Zach Pelletier started at goalkeeper as a freshman and returns to the position. In front of him on defense are junior Dawson Lamoreau, eighth-grader Draw Lamoreau and Wipperman, while junior Gus Bonner and sophomore Chase Flewelling will rotate between the back line and as Sweeney’s partner at midfield. Sophomore Blake King and junior Trey Brewer will also be part of a platoon between midfield and forward. Freshman Raiden Cochran will play a similar role.
Josh Good, a junior, is working his way back from a knee injury suffered during the summer and will play in several spots on the field when healthy. Freshman Riley Thomas and eighth-graders Ashton Bugbee and Josiah Ellis are the Bears’ other players. Junior Mason Adams is back as the team’s manager.
“We want to control the pace of games,” Shaw said. “We are going to move the ball well and I expect a gritty effort from each player that steps on the field. These guys are unselfish and get along well and that goes a long ways.”
Shaw knows opponents will focus their defensive efforts on Sweeney, but feels his squad has some other players who can make teams pay for that strategy.
“You need 11 players to do their part and handle their positions, or it doesn’t work when it counts. We are working every single day to make each player quicker, stronger, skilled and confident and if we keep doing this, we will have a chance to compete when it matters.”
The Bears open regular season play on Monday, Aug. 15 with a 5 p.m. home game against the Hodgdon Hawks.
