5 Maine highschool soccer groups to look at this fall
4 defending regional champions and a perennial contender are the 5 groups to look at this season from the North’s 4 lessons of women’ soccer.
Regardless of commencement losses, all 5 groups return a stable nucleus of gifted and seasoned gamers and have added impactful newcomers.
They’re listed in alphabetical order with final yr’s last document (together with playoffs).
Bangor (10-2-4 in 2022)
The Rams are bored with being Class A North bridesmaids, dropping within the A North championship recreation 4 instances over the previous six seasons. Final yr they misplaced 3-1 to Camden Hills in A North semifinals.
Bangor has a brand new head coach in Jay Kemble, and the Rams are off to a 3-0 begin together with a 3-0 win over Camden Hills.
Bangor graduated 4 All Class A North regional gamers together with a pair of dynamic performers in winger Anna Connors, the Class A state dash champion, and influential midfielder Emmie Streams.
However a number of Rams have stepped up into extra distinguished roles and are delivering.
Sophomore striker Clara Oldenburg, who noticed restricted enjoying time a yr in the past, already has six objectives and junior midfielder Teagan Atherley has 5.
Atherley performed loads final season however is taking over a much bigger function with Streams gone and has been a key element within the assault, three assists to go along with her 5 objectives.
The return of gifted senior Ani Roberts has given the Rams a giant elevate. Roberts had seen little enjoying time the previous two seasons as a result of damage however is teaming up with Atherley and Olivia Scott to produce Bangor with an imposing midfield.
Scott, who will play on the College of Maine subsequent fall, had seven objectives and eight assists a yr in the past and has already scored a objective this season.
Oldenburg has two senior wings along with her up entrance in Lily Chandler and Kelsey Kull, and each can rating and function distributors. Speedy junior Azylnn Gifford additionally performs up entrance and has a objective as does Chandler.
The again line encompasses a mixture of veterans and rising gamers. Senior Mimi Quinn has been a dependable performer all through her profession, and one other senior, Izzy Eire, joins her within the center. Junior J.J. Williams, sophomore Avery Clark and freshman Jo Jo Clukey have stepped up properly and been stable within the again, and Bangor will get a lift when Callie Tennett returns from damage.
Eva Coombs, a junior, has moved into the beginning function in objective after being a backup for 2 years, and Coombs and freshman Emily Caulkins have allowed only one objective to this point.
“We’re balanced. We’re good offensively and defensively, and we’ve got high quality athleticism, velocity, ability and a excessive soccer IQ,” mentioned Kemble. “We have to proceed to develop and develop depth.”
Brunswick (15-1-2 in 2022)
Martyn Davison has guided his Dragons to 2 consecutive Class A North championships and expects his workforce to contend for a 3rd straight.
Brunswick misplaced each state title video games, together with a double-overtime, 1-0 thriller to Scarborough a yr in the past.
“My entrance three is phenomenal,” Davison mentioned, referring to All-KVAC North first teamers Alexis Morin and Molly Tefft together with Hazel Bachman.
Morin suffered a damaged leg within the spring however is again on the sphere, and Davison is upping her minutes each recreation.
Morin, a junior, was a 25-goal scorer a yr in the past, and Tefft had 17.
Tefft, who can also be a very good passer, and Bachman are each sophomores. Bachman noticed restricted obligation a yr in the past.
Brunswick is off to a 2-0 begin with wins over Messalonskee of Oakland, 2-0, and Lewiston, 5-0.
“We’ve created plenty of probabilities however we haven’t put them in but,” mentioned Davison.
Senior Emily Doring provides depth up entrance.
The midfield is powerful with seniors Madeline Chaput and Molly Newell being joined by junior Elysia Palmer.
Chaput had been a left again however performed midfield for the primary time within the state title recreation.
“She was excellent in that recreation that I’ve saved her there,” mentioned Davison.
Eva Kowsky, a sophomore, is a succesful midfielder who will get enjoying time.
The Dragons did endure a pair of serious commencement losses within the again: Ella Gustafson and All-North Class A regional choice Hannah Lay.
However senior Hannah Hamilton and junior Makenzie Beal have appeared good, and sophomore Solveig Ledwick and observe star Kayla Monahan, a junior, have complemented them. Monahan is an excellent sprinter on the observe workforce.
“We’re engaged on our protection however I don’t have any considerations. We’ll hold bettering,” mentioned Davision.
Lengthy-time goalkeeper Sophia Morin has departed, however she has been changed by her athletic freshman sister Juliana Morin.
Bucksport (18-0 in 2022)
Like Brunswick, the Bucks are defending two-time regional champions.
Final yr the Bucks have been in a position to declare their first ever state championship with a 2-1 win over Maranacook of Readfield.
Mike Garcelon’s workforce has been onerous hit by commencement, dropping six starters, however the 5 returning starters are stellar performers with plenty of expertise, and there are gamers who’re able to tackle extra elevated roles.
The Bucks allowed simply three common season objectives in 14 video games, and one of many major causes is Jetta Shook, who has developed into one of many area’s finest goalkeepers.
Shook is now a junior, and he or she and her teammates picked up a season-opening 2-1 win over Foxcroft Academy from Dover-Foxcroft. Foxcroft Academy was in Class B a yr in the past.
Bucksport is now 36-1 total over the previous two-plus seasons.
Regardless of dropping Ella Hosford and her 119 profession objectives, together with 61 two years in the past and 33 final fall, the workforce returned senior striker Lily Chiavelli and senior attacking midfielder Natasha Monreal, who scored 24 and 20 objectives, respectively, a yr in the past.
Senior Sammy Cyr has been moved from stopper to the midfield the place she will probably be joined by sophomore Addison Goss, junior Ruby Pereira and Monreal.
Goss may even present some scoring punch to assist compensate for the loss to Hosford.
The again line is a mix of veterans and first-time starters.
Nettie Fox, a senior, will transfer as much as stopper from final yr’s sweeper place. Madison Rose, a sophomore, would be the sweeper. Ashley Cyr, a senior and Sammy Cyr’s cousin, would be the left again and junior Laycee Tweedie would be the proper again.
Sophomore Haley Rose, Madison Rose’s twin sister, will probably be up entrance with Chiavelli.
The Rose sisters, Goss and Monreal are fleet-footed sprinters on the observe workforce and Monreal can also be an excellent jumper.
Hermon (17-1-0)
The Hawks misplaced three gamers who mixed to attain over 200 profession objectives in Lyndsee Reed, Allie Cameron and Michaela Saulter. All three have been All-Class B North alternatives.
Reed scored 103 objectives in her profession, 41 coming final season.
However scoring objectives hasn’t been a problem for Hermon to this point this season as they’ve scored 18 of their 3-0 begin.
That’s as a result of sophomores Madison Stewart and Natalie Tardie have picked up the place they left off from a yr in the past once they scored 29 and 15 objectives, respectively ,as freshmen.
The speedy Tardie already has seven objectives, and Stewart has 5.
Hampden Academy switch Sam Grover, a junior, has scored two objectives as has All-Class B North choose Brooke Gallop, a junior midfielder.
Head coach M.J. Ball feels Tardie, Stewart and Grover are all able to scoring 20 objectives.
Hermon has gained 55 straight video games in opposition to North opponents, together with playoffs, and Ball has compiled an everyday season document of 116-5-4.
The workforce is searching for a fourth consecutive Class B North title however has but to win a state title. Final yr the workforce misplaced 3-2 in additional time to Yarmouth within the state B last.
Senior Izzy Byram has made the transition from exterior midfielder to central midfielder and has additionally dented the scoresheet with a objective.
Junior Olivia Johnson and senior Eva Benjamin have returned to the soccer pitch this season after doing fall cheering final yr and have dealt with the surface midfield chores.
The Hawks scored 88 common season objectives and solely surrendered 5 in 14 video games a yr in the past, however they’ve already given up seven objectives in three video games.
That’s as a result of the again line is all first-year starters in seniors Saige Lang, Nevaeh Kenney and Ellie Williams together with sophomore Ellie Williams.
However the protection will enhance because the gamers achieve expertise, and the Hawks do have a veteran top-notch goalkeeper in Bella Bowden.
“We’re a piece in progress with a gifted and hardworking group,” mentioned Ball. “Our focus is to be higher every recreation each individually and collectively. We have to maintain the ball, create and end probabilities and be robust defensively.”
Penobscot Valley (16-1-1 in 2022)
The Howlers would be the workforce to beat in Class D North regardless of dropping twins and All-Penobscot Valley Convention first workforce alternatives Holly and Kaya Loring.
That’s as a result of PVC Class D North Participant of the 12 months Lila Cummings and fellow first-team choice Ellie Austin headline a robust group of 15 returnees.
Cummings scored 24 objectives a yr in the past as a freshman, Austin had 22 and Rylee Moulton, one other freshman, contributed 19 objectives.
Final yr the workforce misplaced to North Yarmouth Academy 8-0 within the state Class D last.
“We may probably be higher than final yr,” mentioned PVC Class D Coach of the 12 months Jeremy Durost, who can also be the college’s new athletic director. “We’ve got nice depth.”
The Howlers opened this season with a 7-1 win over Bangor Christian below the brand new lights at their Dave Lovett Memorial Area, their first-ever night time recreation. Moulton had 4 objectives and an help, Cummings had a pair of objectives and Austin had a objective and three assists.
Moulton is a striker and Austin performs on the left wing with Durost’s daughter, Savannah, a sophomore, enjoying on the suitable wing.
Cummings is an attacking midfielder and is joined within the midfield by senior Ashlyn St. Cyr and sophomore Lauren Veino. Senior Mia Neal, who missed all of final season as a result of damage after beginning as a sophomore, is again and is a vital a part of the workforce’s protection.
Your entire again line returns with juniors Allie LeBlanc and Shay Eire, senior Emma Potter and sophomore Eve McNally again within the fold. Potter was a D North honorable point out final season.
Goalkeeper Lauren Sensible transferred to Hampden Academy, however Durost mentioned freshman goalie Brooklynn Raymond has “picked it up extraordinarily quick. She is an effective athlete.”
“We’re totally assured she goes to be up for the job,” he added.
