Blair breaks Ashland goals mark, Hornet teams thriving
Cody Blair made soccer history in Ashland Thursday, scoring four times to become the school’s all-time leading goal scorer among boys. He accomplished the feat in a 5-2 road victory over Katahdin.
Blair moved past Andrew Sjogren, who played from 1991-94 and had previously held the mark with 61 goals. After scoring four more goals Monday, Blair now has 68 on the season with still two regular season matches left.
Michael Cook tallied Ashland’s other goal against the Cougars, which was assisted by Blair while Airin Harmon and Cook recorded assists on two of Blair’s goals.
Stephen Bellanceau had eight saves on 11 shots for the winners, while Katahdin’s Cody Brownlee saved 20 of 27 shots.
Ashland coach Mark Stanley likes the way the team is playing with the playoffs approaching.
“The team looks very sharp, with scoring threats coming from all over the field,” Stanley said. “I’ve been particularly impressed with our passing going forward and finishing. The team seems to be hitting peak form at the right time of the season.”
In other soccer action, the Presque Isle girls suffered their first loss of the season, falling at Hermon last Wednesday by a score of 1-0. Chloe Raymond’s goal with 17:29 to play in the second half was the difference. The Hawks dominated by outshooting PI, 25-3, with Jillian Flynn making 17 saves to keep her team in contention throughout.
The ’Cats were able to rebound Saturday with a 4-1 home triumph over Foxcroft Academy.
The Wildcat boys had registered a loss and a tie in their previous contests two weeks ago, but were able to bounce back with victories over Hermon and Foxcroft Academy in recent play. The wins lifted the team to a 7-2-1 mark with four games to go.
Summaries of all the other games involving teams from the region played from Sept. 30-Oct. 6 are as follows.
Ashland boys 8, Wisdom 0 — The Hornets peppered Wisdom goalkeeper Chance Gervais with 39 shots and converted on eight of them in the easy victory Monday in Ashland. Blair continued his offensive dominance with four goals, while Jarrett Beaulier had two and assisted on three others. Mark Chasse and Cook also had goals and Wyatt Condon an assist for the Hornets, who improved to 8-2-2.
Bellanceau made only one save on four shots.
Ashland girls 12, Wisdom 0 — Marissa Chasse built on her Ashland girls’ career mark in goals by netting four Monday as her team notched its fifth consecutive shutout victory.
Caitlin Paradis, Mackenzie Carter and Savannah Flint had two goals apiece, while Laura Sturgeon and Micayla Driscoll chipped in with single goals for 12-0 Hornet girls.
Also for Ashland, Morgan Doughty assisted on two goals and goalkeeper Megan Cote saved the only two shots she faced.
Presque Isle boys 2, Foxcroft Academy 1 — The host Wildcats overcame a deficit at intermission Saturday as Ben Nickerson scored off an Alex Michaud assist early in the second half to tie the game and Ryle Mortland provided the game-winner later in the half.
The PI defense did the rest, giving up very few good chances to the talented Ponies.
Foxcroft had taken the lead with 15 minutes left in the opening half when Antonio Ayala scored on a blast from 18 yards out.
Andrew Paterson saved six of eight shots in goal for Presque Isle.
Presque Isle girls 4, Foxcroft Academy 1 — Hannah Graham scored two goals, one on a second-half penalty kick, as the Wildcats bested the Ponies at home Saturday for their ninth win against the one loss.
Emily Wheaton and Macy Desmond were the other goal scorers for Presque Isle. Desmond and Krystal Kingsbury also had assists. Flynn faced only two shots, while her opposite, Foxcroft’s Alisha Thomas was much busier with 17 saves on 28 attempts.
Southern Aroostook boys 3, Central Aroostook 1 — Parker Walker scored a hat trick as the Warriors beat the Panthers Friday in Mars Hill. Dustin Pryor had the lone goal for CA, now 5-5 overall.
Southern Aroostook girls 2, Central Aroostook 1 — The Panthers took the early lead Friday when Karli Levesque converted a Mollie Garrison assist, but Kennedy Smith and Cassie Lyons tallied for the visitors to earn the comeback victory. Central Aroostook’s record evened at 5-5.
Presque Isle boys 4, Hermon 0 — Nickerson scored twice, one in each half, while Nick Bartlett and Chase Norton added a goal each as the Wildcats avenged an early-season loss to the Hawks Thursday in Hermon.
Khasen Lowe assisted on Nickerson’s first goal, which came less than 17 minutes into the match, while his Nickerson’s other came unassisted midway through the second half to cap the scoring.
Randon Mortland and Kyle Rider registered assists for Presque Isle. Paterson had his fourth goalkeeping shutout of the season by collecting seven saves.
Ashland girls 7, Katahdin 0 — On Thursday in Stacyville, Chasse and Flint each had two goals to lift the Hornets to the victory. Flint assisted on both Chasse goals as Ashland won its 11th consecutive game and stayed perfect.
Doughty, Paradis and Carter each added a goal for the winners. Doughty, Paradis and Chasse also contributed assists.
Katahdin’s Courtney Stevens had a busy day while facing 35 shots on goal. Cote gained the easy shutout in goal as she did not face any shots.
