Staff Writer
For the first two years of Robbie Krul’s college coaching career, the Northern Maine Community College Falcons were the weakest team in its conference.
Last year, Krul’s third at the helm, marked a turning point as his team qualified for the Yankee Conference playoffs.
The Falcons are on the verge of qualifying for post-season play once again, carrying a 3-3 record into Sunday’s home match against Unity College. Krul said a win should propel his NMCC squad back into the playoffs.
The Falcons rely on their three captains for stability and leadership. Sam Petrie of Old Town, who plays goalie, joins Presque Isle High School graduates Trent Legassie and Luke Ireland as the team leaders.
“Those guys really keep the team together,” Krul said. “They were part of last season’s success, and we’ve built this year’s team around them.”
Petrie is an outstanding goalkeeper, who Krul said could start for many NCAA Division III teams.
Legassie is a fiery leader who plays the sweeper position with his heart and owns a great attitude and work ethic. “We’re privileged to have a guy like that on the team,” Krul said.
Ireland has moved up to a midfield position after playing stopper last year and has excelled in his new role. He is the top scorer on the team and has a goal in every game except for two in which NMCC was shut out. He was named the conference’s player of the week two weeks ago.
Krul said several others have factored into the Falcons’ success in 2008. One of those players is Justin Lyshon, who has returned to the team after having played in 2005 and 2006 before transferring to Eastern Maine Community College last year. He plays on the wing and is very quick and supplies a lot of energy while on the field.
Rounding out the lineup are backs Dave Flint and Elizan McLean (Presque Isle), outside midfielders Blake McCarthy (Mars Hill) and Justin Graham, defensive midfielders Ryan Kilcollins (Mars Hill) and Sam Harris (Washburn) and forwards Craig Hamann and Michael Libby (Houlton).
Jake Graham (Presque Isle), Michael Condon (Ashland), Mitchell Panati, Jared Hodgins, Brandon Daigle (Presque Isle) and Nathan Manning-Harris (Easton) round out the Falcons’ roster.
The Falcons won a pair of home matches last week, besting EMCC Thursday, 3-1, before topping SMCC Sunday, 2-0. Hamann, McCarthy and Ireland were the goal scorers in Thursday’s victory, with Hamann also picking up an assist.
On a rainy Sunday afternoon on the SAD 1 Athletic Complex turf field, Libby and Ireland scored second-half goals to key the win. Libby’s came off an assist by Hamann, while Ireland converted a penalty kick to close out the scoring. Petrie needed to make just three saves to record the shutout.
Contributed photo/Dave Allen Graphics
FALCON SOCCER — Members of the Northern Maine Community College Falcons men’s soccer team are, in front from left, Trent Legassie, Jared Hodgins, Brandon Daigle, Sam Harris, Justin Graham, Michael Condon and Justin Lyshon. Back row, Mitchell Panati, Jake Graham, Dave Flint, Ryan Kilcollins, Elizan McLean, Blake McCarthy, Luke Ireland, Craig Hamann, Michael Libby, Sam Petrie and coach Robbie Krul. Absent when photo was taken was Nathan Manning-Harris.
Contributed photo/Dave Allen Graphics
ABSORBING CONTACT – NMCC wing Justin Lyshon gets fouled during the second half of a wet soccer match against Southern Maine Community College Sunday at the Johnson Athletic Complex in Presque Isle. The Falcons won, 2-0.
