3 shocking outcomes from Maine highschool soccer’s opening week
Maine highschool soccer formally kicked off this Friday, with week one that includes noteworthy showings from Portland, Oceanside and Windham.
All three groups bested current Maine state champions, suggesting that there may very well be some turnover within the energy rankings this fall.
Portland beats Thornton Academy away, 35-28
Of their first recreation again as members of Class A, the Portland Bulldogs endured the daunting activity of enjoying the Thornton Academy Trojans away on Friday evening.
Longtime Class A powerhouse Thornton Academy completed as state finalists final fall, and had an ideal 2021 marketing campaign, profitable its fifth championship since 2012.
However the Bulldogs clearly additionally had one thing to show, having completed as Class B runners-up in 2022 and state semifinalists in 2021, as they got here out on high Friday evening in Saco.
“No person picked us, however we thought we might do it,” Bulldogs’ first-year head coach Sean Inexperienced advised The Forecaster. “No matter classification, soccer is soccer on the finish of the day.”
Either side returned the primary two kickoffs for touchdowns, though Bulldogs’ Reegan Buck’s 90-yard landing return on the opening kickoff was known as again for an unlawful block within the again.
Unfazed, the Bulldogs went forward and solid a 62-yard scoring drive, earlier than having their lead instantly negated by Thornton junior Ryan Camire’s 82-yard landing run on the following kickoff.
Flash ahead to the ultimate minute of the fourth quarter, Buck obtained his large rating with the sport tied at 28-28.
Quarterback Louis Thurston hit Buck in stride for a 31-yard landing cross with 48 seconds to go, Buck’s third rating of the sport, because the Bulldogs went on to win 35-28.
Buck additionally had speeding touchdowns of 1 yard and 10 yards within the second quarter, ending with 143 complete yards from scrimmage.
“This implies every thing,” Buck advised The Forecaster. “Our chemistry is unmatched. All of us belief one another to do our half.”
Portland’s victory over Thornton Academy was its first in 16 years. Most not too long ago, Thornton had overwhelmed Portland within the 2018 and 2015 Class A state championship video games.
Oceanside beats Cape Elizabeth at dwelling, 50-12
Chosen as one in all 5 North groups to observe this fall, the Oceanside Mariners kicked off their season by blowing out 2021 Class C state champions Cape Elizabeth.
Oceanside’s offense was revitalized final yr underneath new head coach Sam Weiss, averaging 37.4 factors per recreation in 2022, after solely placing up 10.6 in 2021.
“We intention for 50,” Weiss mentioned. “Our objective is to attain, by no means to punt.”
The Mariners broke it open with 22 second-quarter factors, taking a 30-6 lead with 0.5 seconds left within the half after senior quarterback Cohen Galley discovered junior Chris Mills for a 9-yard landing cross.
The 70-yard drive lasted solely 45 seconds.
Cohen Galley additionally threw three touchdowns to his twin brother, Carter, who was unable to play most of final yr on account of damage. Cohen completed with 218 passing yards, 170 of which went by Carter.
On the bottom, reigning Huge 11 Participant of the Yr senior Aiden Sargent had two very good landing runs, scoring from 42 after which 79 yards out.
Sargent was bugged by an damage this preseason, however “confirmed that he was again” by turning on “the burners” these two occasions, mentioned Weiss.
Sargent completed with 183 yards on 12 carries, whereas Cohen ran for 81 plus a landing on eight carries. The duo accounted for all seven Oceanside touchdowns.
On protection, Oceanside stored Cape Elizabeth at bay with two interceptions and 7 tackles for a loss. Subsequent week’s matchup towards a tricky Hermon offensive line must be an fascinating check for the Mariners, which conceded 46 factors to the Hawks in final yr’s Class C regional semifinal.
Windham beats Skowhegan away, 35-0
The Windham Eagles overpowered reigning Class B champions Skowhegan Friday evening and constructed a 28-0 lead going into halftime.
Windham was enjoying with a chip on its shoulder, contemplating it beat Skowhegan 14-7 in final yr’s common season, earlier than being eradicated within the first spherical of the Class B North playoffs.
Each groups have been compelled to punt on their opening drives, however senior Tobias Perkins opened the scoring for Windham when he returned Skowhegan’s punt 40 yards for a landing.
From there, senior operating again Marcus Tillery added on three first half speeding touchdowns, from 71, 5 and 54 yards out.
“I believe the turning level was that play by Tobias,” Tillery advised The Morning Sentinel. “Proper after that, we simply began enjoying fired up, man. We have been shifting on the market, we have been enjoying bodily, and when you will have that sort of power, that’s the result.”
On the opposite finish, a younger Skowhegan workforce struggled to get organized on offense, as turnovers and penalties diluted any probability of a River Hawk comeback.
“When you will have a bunch of these penalties and psychological errors that begin to stack up, it prices you,” first-year head coach Brad Cyr mentioned. “We’ve obtained a pile of sophomores on the market which can be getting their first style of varsity, and we all know that studying curve goes to be steep.”
Windham will host an upstart Bangor workforce this Friday, as each groups vye to enhance to 2-0.
