Sports Editor
Boys soccer squads were out in force this week with a flurry of games played on the new fall season. Central Aroostook (4-1) has been a goal scoring macine to start the season, netting 22 goals in its first five games.
The following is a recap of games played that were reported to the newspaper. Coaches are urged to send in their results after each contest for both home or away games.
Central Aroostook 4, Limestone/MSSM 3 — At Limestone Monday, the Panthers (4-1) had their toughest challenges of the season against winless Limestone/MSSM (0-3). Central Aroostook took an early 2-0 lead in the first half, thanks to goals by Logan Thomas and Brendan York but the Eagles erased that deficit with two unanswered goals of their own from Curtis Paheo and Nate Tucker, to knot the game at 2-2.
The Panthers quickly countered with second-half goals from Thomas and Garrett Stiles. Limestone/MSSM tried to rally, as Joshua Forsman scored an unassisted goal with 4:07 to play, but that would be as close as the Eagles would get.
Tallying assists in the contest were Stiles and Steve Decker for CAHS and Michael Allen for Limestone/MSSM. Play turned chippy in the second half of the contest with a total of four yellow penalty cards distributed. CAHS out shot the Eagles 22-14 and held a 5-0 edge in corner kicks.
Ross Grass had four saves on 14 shots for the Panthers, while Zach Moreau had 12 saves on 22 shots for the Eagles.
Central Aroostook 6, Washburn 0 — At Mars Hill Friday, the Panthers roared to another lopsided victory. Brewer scored three goals and Stiles added two goals and an assist. Spencer Stetson had a solo goal and Thomas added an assist for the Panthers.
Grass stopped three of seven shots for Central Aroostook, while Howe had seven saves on 18 shots for Washburn (1-2).
Central Aroostook 5, Fort Fairfield 2 — At Mars Hill Wednesday, Aug. 19, Stiles scored two first half goals, while Dan Brewer also had two goals to pace the Panthers. Kyle Murray added a solo goal, with an assist for CAHS.
Nathan McLaughlin and Andrew Tuck each had one goal for the Tigers (0-3).
Grass stopped two of 11 shots for the Panthers, while Chris Weeks had 10 saves on 20 shots for the Tigers.
Easton 3, Washburn 0 — At Easton Wednesday, Aug. 19, the Bears proved to be unfriendly hosts as Easton blanked visiting Washburn for their first win of the young season. Corey White had a pair of first-half goals for the Bears, while Holden Turner added an unassisted goal in the second half. Turner also had an assist on White’s first goal of the game.
Easton out shot Washburn 16-8. Cody Tompkins had eight saves for Easton, while Justin Howe had 13 saves for the Beavers.
“We have a tendency to kick and run a bit too much,” Easton coach Ryan Shaw said. “I’m trying to get them to work the ball out wide more, to free up the middle of the field. The guys are young and are learning a whole new system. And with no exhibition games, we’ve had to work out the wrinkles in our first few games.”
Shaw added the Bears switched their defensive scheme on Tuesday, going from the diamond defense, to a flat-back defense.
“We had a few wrinkles in the defense today, but we’ll work those out,” he said. “We’re getting better every game and that is what you want to see.”
Washburn coach Ben Goodwin said the Beavers were a bit surprised by Easton’s four-man, flat-back defense, which made it difficult for the forwards to attack the goal.
“We’ve practiced against it, but we had not seen a defense like that all last year,” Goodwin said. “We’ll definitely be ready for them when we see them again in Washburn.”
Southern Aroostook 4, Easton 0 — At Dyer Brook Friday, Easton (1-3) was not as fortunate as the Bears were blanked by the Warriors. Dakota Sleeper led the Warriors with three goals, while David Dubois added a solo goal.
Tompkins had 13 saves on 26 shots for the Bears. Jesse Boulier had seven saves on 10 shots for Southern Aroostook.
Wisdom 2, Ashland 1 — At Frenchville Tuesday, Aug. 18, the visiting Hornets (0-1) suffered a frustrating season-opening loss, thanks in part to Mother Nature. A severe lightning storm resulted in the game being halted at halftime with Ashland trailing 2-1.
Kody Chamberland of Wisdom scored the game’s first goal with 21:14 to play in the first half off an assist from Rocky Chamberland. Ashland’s Kenny Tarr evened the game at 1-1 when he scored off a Casey Cobb assist with 15:30 to play in the first half.
Wisdom retook the lead when Kyle Daigle scored unassisted at 13:30.
Ashland out shot the Pioneers 17-4, with Hornet goalie Bobby Gardner making two saves. Ryan Blanchette tallied 10 saves in net for Wisdom.
Staff photo/Joseph Cyr
MAKING A HEADY PLAY IS Justin Farley, front, of Washburn as he skims the ball off his head during last Wednesday’s boys soccer game in Easton. Looking on from behind is Bear Zach Clark.
Staff photo/Joseph Cyr 
WHO IS THE PLAYER behind the ball? It’s none other than Garrett Stiles of Central Aroostook as he takes the ball off the face during Monday night’s game against Limestone/MSSM. The Panthers were victorious 4-3 to improve to 4-1 on the season.
