By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
WASHBURN – Last year is apparently a distant memory for the Washburn varsity soccer teams.
After combining for just five wins last season, three for the boys and two for the girls, the Beaver soccer squads are both looking like serious contenders for playoff positions following their first several games.
The Washburn girls have compiled a 7-3-2 record and are in third place in Eastern Maine Class D. Second-year coach Marcie Barbarula said the “leadership of the upperclassmen has jelled with the ambitious and quick freshman class.”
“The key goal that each of the players want is to be successful,” Barbarula said. “They will definitely have the success if they continue to work together as a team.”
Barbarula has a starting group that includes senior stopper Rebecca Campbell, senior fullback Hillary Jackson, senior striker Lindsey Blackstone, senior Sarah Sjoberg, senior midfielder Meghan Saucier, junior forward Kristi Sperrey, junior sweeper Kelsey Churchill, sophomore goalie Rayah Saucier, sophomore fullback Oliva Doody, freshman fullback Nicole Olson, freshman center midfielder Carmen Bragg and freshman midfielder Carsyn Koch.
Junior Tia Dee will see plenty of action at fullback, while freshmen Kennedy Churchill, Caitlyn Roix and Taylor Thompson will also figure into the rotation. Maegan Fitzpatrick has missed the beginning of the season due to injury.
Scott Olson is the team’s assistant coach who “has brought a lot of great ideas to the team,” according to Barbarula. Kyle McLaughlin is back for his third year as the team’s manager.
“We need to go into each game and play hard for 80 minutes and communicate with each other,” said the coach. “With that, the scoring opportunities will come.”
The boys team has been equally as impressive with a 7-3-1 record heading into yesterday’s match against Katahdin, good for seventh place in its division.
“Their skill level and ability has really improved,” said fourth-year coach Ben Goodwin of the Beavers. “They have an opportunity to go as far as their work ethic will take them.”
Washburn’s starting unit includes junior Jordan McLaughlin, who is the leading scorer so far; sophomore Mitchell Worcester, senior Kyle Huston, senior Chris Farley, senior Connor Fitzpatrick, junior Chase Chandler, junior Mason Turner, junior Anthony Viola, senior Ethan Pendexter, sophomore Nick Bragg and junior goalkeeper Zach Davis.
Goodwin calls Bragg “the top sweeper” among Aroostook County Class D schools.
Others on the team include Andrew McLaughlin, Justin Farley, Keegan Page, Jacob Reed, Kyle Hews and Sean Sperrey.
“We need to play 80 minutes of aggressive, smart soccer to be successful,” Goodwin said. “I told the kids that this year they can take it as far as they want to.”
