Health a huge factor in Panthers’ bid to contend
MARS HILL, Maine — Joe Levesque has had plenty of injuries to deal with on his Central Aroostook girls’ varsity soccer team.
So when a lightning storm suspended last Tuesday’s game against Fort Fairfield and weather was again a factor in the postponement of Friday’s game at Wisdom, Levesque was not exactly complaining.
The Panthers already have a victory stashed away, that one coming Aug. 14 over Washburn by a 2-0 score, and Levesque believes, especially when the injured players return to the field, that many more could be on the way.
“This year’s team has as much potential of any I have coached,” said Levesque. “They may be a bit quicker and deeper than my prior teams.”
Central Aroostook has almost everybody back from last year’s team that went 7-7 during the regular season, finishing ninth in Eastern Maine Class D, beat East Grand in a prelim and was defeated by the eventual state champion Ashland Hornets in the quarterfinals.
Gone are defender Whitnie Bradbury and goalkeeper April Santiago, who graduated and will be difficult players to replace, according to Levesque. However, a strong junior high program has continued to turn out quality talent, so the Panthers should rebound from those personnel losses.
Karli Levesque, a senior, is one of those returning players slowed by an injury as she has been battling knee problems throughout the summer. Levesque has been an excellent goal scorer and all-around player throughout her career and her return as a midfielder will provide a huge lift. Her father/coach said she should begin soccer activities within the next couple weeks.
Freshman Kayla Decker and sophomores Maranda Anthony, Jessie Thomas and Michaela Pelletier are others who have been hurt early on.
The starting lineup in the opener included freshman Ashlee Harris in goal, junior Kelsey Dominique at sweeper, sophomore Keara McCrum at stopper, junior Sarah Garritson at right back, Thomas at left back, senior Mollie Garrison at left mid, senior Molly Anthony at center mid, junior Jadeyn Giberson at center mid, senior Delaney Grass at right mid and sophomores Caitlyn Harris and Kassie Levesque at striker.
Key players off the bench are freshman Olivia Pelletier and sophomores Michaela Pelletier, Isabelle Wright and Sarah Sargent.
Others on the large 22-player roster are freshmen Isabelle Shaw and Morgan Price, sophomore Taia Tilley and junior Megan Wells. The managers are Isabelle Cadet and Dayna McCrum and the assistant coaches are Jocelyn MacDonald and Page Fletcher.
“The keys to our success will be getting healthy, defense and midfield pressure,” said coach Levesque.
Due to the postponements, Central Aroostook’s first two games were against Washburn and its next two are huge tests — Thursday’s home contest against the defending Class D state champion Ashland Hornets and Saturday’s match at Madawaska, a team that dropped down from Class C and captured the Presque Isle Invitational round-robin Aug. 15.
“I think Ashland has set the standard for success,” he added, “and it is up to the rest of us to catch up.”
Fort Fairfield is another strong Class D team, according to Levesque, and he predicted Penobscot Valley of Howland will be another contender.
