By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
Hopes of a deep run into the Class C playoffs for the Shiretowners ended last Wednesday in Madawaska, as the Owls shut out the Houlton boys, 3-0.
“This was a hard loss for a bunch of kids who worked hard all year to put themselves in a situation to win it all,” said Houlton coach Mike Carlos.
Pioneer Times file photo/Gloria Austin
LAST YEAR — Houlton’s Kole Buzzeo played his last high school soccer game in goal for the Houlton Shiretowners last Wednesday. Buzzeo has manned the posts for three years and has helped Houlton win a state title last year.
Madawaska’s Jake Gendreau opened the scoring off a corner kick about seven minutes into the game.
“We didn’t communicate with each other,” explained Carlos. “The most disturbing thing about their first goal is it came after we had just had a number of scoring chances, which we failed to capitalize on.”
The Owls’ second goal was scored by their prolific scorer Ian Lee at the 4:36 mark to spot Madawaska a 2-0 halftime lead.
“Lee’s goal happened as we were attempting to clear the ball from the 18,” Carlos said. “We miss kicked the ball and it ended up on his foot. From where he was standing, it was an easy goal.”
The game evened out in the second half, but Madawaska’s Lee capped off the scoring with 7:13 left in the game on a Gendreau assist.
“It was late in the second half and it was the kind of play where ‘How much do I have in the tank” type of situation,” Carlos explained.
Houlton goalie Kole Buzzeo blocked six of nine shots faced, while Madawaska keeper Time Deschene stopped all four shots the Shires attempted.
Madawaska — who hasn’t let an opponent score in their last two playoff games — advances to the Class C final against Fort Kent today. The Owls are 15-1-0. The Shires end their season at 8-6-2.
Pioneer Times file photo/Gloria Austin
BACK KICK — Gage Hunt of Houlton back kicks the ball toward the net, while Dan Howe moves in on the action. The Houlton boys lost in quarterfinal action to Madawaska, 3-0. Hunt graduates this year, but Howe will be back to help regroup the team as they embark on their goal of making it back to a championship.
“This was as good of a season as any I have ever had,” said Carlos. “Sure we didn’t win the goal ball. I can live with that. What happened this season in soccer is a group of students who have mostly been role players on teams in the past stepped up and found out how much they could achieve and they didn’t need anybody else. Their growth as individuals was fantastic. There is not one student on this team that I am not proud of.”
After the loss last Wednesday, Carlos noted that he and the team made a pledge to be back in the championship hunt next year.
“We are building a successful program, which requires a lot of hard work and dedication from all those involved,” said Carlos. “I believe the students have figured it out.”
The Shiretowners will graduate five seniors from this year’s squad — Buzzeo, Hunter McLaughlin, Alex Casillas, Gage Hunt and Lucas Grant.
“I have played a number of reserves in those positions, so I have students to put into those positions,” said Carlos. “I believe there are 10 freshmen coming up next year, so it should be an interesting year.
“We have to develop goal scorers,” he added. “That was our problem all year. We need to find someone. Next year will see the team’s first new goalie in three years. There is a young man waiting in the wings. So next year there are some unknowns, but we have set the goal. (It is up to us). Let’s make it happen.”
