SO SWEET — Peter Johnson, left, and Kaleb Gallager, members of the Katahdin Cougars, kiss the state championship ball after Katahdin came from behind 4-2 to defeat defending champ Richmond.
Local soccer teams crowned Class D state champs
Davis’ goal propels Cougars to win
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
HOULTON – The Katahdin Cougars triumphed over the defending state champion Richmond Bobcats in last Saturday’s Class D state final, burying the Bobcats’ dream of a repeat title. Behind senior Marshall Davis’ second goal of the game with 5:11 left gave the Cougars their first-ever boy’s state championship in school history with a 5-4 victory.
STATE CHAMPS – Playing for the Katahdin Cougars Class D state champion squad are, from left, front, Branden Cunningham, Victor Cloukey, Peter Johnson, Kaleb Gallagher, Patrick Knowles, Mickey Savage, Kolby Gallagher, Brenden Landry and Mike Martin; back, assistant James Anderson, Emily Blakely, Myah Smallwood, Jaimee Lee Anderson, Travis Lindsay, Jesse McNally, Kohle Birmingham, Matt Tarr, Billy Duffy, Ethan Qualey, Matt Kay, Jesse Rodgerson, Marshall Davis, Richard Qualey, Micah Rodgerson and coach Matt Lindsay.
“It’s amazing,” said Davis. “We’ve been waiting for this for four years. We’ve given our heart out, and here it is, I’m awfully excited about it.”
They snapped Richmond’s 45-game win streak since last season.
“This is the best feeling I have ever felt,” added Katahdin goalie Matt Tarr.
Katahdin never led in the game and though an impending loss seemed possible, the Cougars showed their “never die” attitude when they overcame a 4-2 deficit in the second half.
On a Richmond corner kick, Bobcat senior Andy Harrington drilled a straight on shot at Katahdin goalie Tarr, who made another remarkable save for the Cougars. With the ball cleared, Davis picked up the ball on the right side, dribbling and weaving his way through Richmond defenders leaning heavily on him, he made his way to the middle. Once Davis had breathing room, he hit a grounder to the right post, tucking it past Bobcat goalie Bruce Carver, who was slow reacting.
“I was worried about getting past that last defender,” said Davis. “I got passed him and I tried to touch it to the side panel. And, I got it.”
Katahdin finishes at 17-0-1 and Richmond 16-1-0.
SLIDES – Katahdin goalie Matt Tarr slides out in an attempt to stop Richmond senior Andy Harrington’s shot on goal in Saturday’s Class D state championship. Following the play is senior Matt Kay. The Cougars overcame a second-half 4-2 deficit to win the crown, 5-4.
Poised, experienced and self-assured, the Bobcats scored an early opening goal when Harrington beat Katahdin’s defenders to score.
“Their first goal definitely did put me down a bit,” said Tarr. “[But we had to ] try to get back in the game, get our heads on and score.”
Like greased lightning, the Cougars were back on the attack, as Ethan Qualey scored the equalizer 30 seconds later.
The action went back-and-forth with Richmond’s Harrington tacked on another goal. The Cougars tied the game when Kolby Gallagher dove and headed in a long pass to the right side of Richmond’s goalie Carver.
CHAMPS – The Katahdin Cougars hold their Eastern Maine plaque up in victory after last Wednesday’s 5-2 win over visiting Machais.
With misty rain and fog settling in, the Cougars and Bobcats clashed on a soggy, slimy Schenck High School soccer field. Both teams played a physically aggressive game that ultimately came with consequences.
Katahdin senior sweeper Jesse Rodgerson was tagged with a yellow card, exiting the game for pushing a Richmond player off the ball, and later, Richmond suffered a costly infraction that tied the game.
The Bobcats came out in the second half, scoring twice to give them breathing room and a 4-2 lead, but the Cougars kept working and looking for their scoring chances. Then with 20:17 left in the game, Katahdin’s Davis cut the lead to one when he took a rebound off Qualey’s initial shot, in a scramble for the ball. Davis out hustled goalie Carver and his defenders, sending the ball into an open net.
Three minutes later, the Cougars were awarded a penalty kick after a Katahdin player was taken down inside the penalty area. Qualey faking one way, launched a perfect shot with laser-precision, low just barely inside the right post.
With the Bobcats taken aback and the Cougars energized, the last minutes of the game were tense. As Richmond had several scoring opportunities, with each shot going wide or Tarr racing out to collect the ball to stymie any chances.
“They definitely wanted to get the goal back at the end,” Tarr said. “I tried to get out and get every loose ball I could and to hold them off.”
HUSTLE – Katahdin’s Marshall Davis beats Richmond defenders and their goalie to a loose ball during last Saturday’s state championship game.
Tarr and his counterpart Carver each finished with five saves in an evenly matched game.
“They are an excellent team,” Davis said of Richmond. “We are equal. They are a great team, offense and defense, the same as us.”
The Cougars first Eastern Maine trophy came last Wednesday with a 5-2 win over Machias in Stacyville.
I’ve always told the boys, If you’re going to play, you might as well make it interesting, and they sure did,” said Katahdin coach Matt Lindsay. “Machias is a really good team. They had a few unfortunate situations were they miskicked the ball and we capitalized on it.”
The first half was defensive, but the Cougars managed a 1-0 lead on a direct kick. On an obstruction call nine minutes into the game, Qualey set the ball and touched it to Kolby Gallagher, who slid it in.
Machias missed a chance to tie the game with five minutes left in the opening half when the shot went above Tarr’s outstretched hands, ringing the crossbar.
COUGARS – In the left photograph, Kolby Gallagher works to get the ball in the Eastern Maine championship game against Machias, while right, coach Matt Lindsay gets a cold shower from his squad after winning the Class D regional game.
The Cougars added their second goal with 31:25 left when Davis scored on a two-on-one rush off Mickey Savage’s pass and then Qualey scored on Davis’ pass with 23:28 left.
In the final 15 minutes, the Bulldogs were ferocious, as Matt Little scored on a breakaway with 15:20 left and then on a penalty kick after a holding call. Little hit the ball hard and low to cut into Katahdin’s lead.
“They really brought it together and they put it to us,” Lindsay said. “They changed the tide, changing the momentum of game. We made a mistake on the first goal. We were playing up too far. The second goal, it was unfortunate situation where one my kids was holding himself up by one of the other guys’ jersey. It happens, but the important thing is we came back and we didn’t let it bother us.”
The Cougars regrouped and came back with two more goals, as Qualey converted on a Davis pass with 3:46 left and three minutes later; he scored again off a direct kick. Gallagher sent the ball on net, Machias’ goalie deflected the ball right to Qualey at the right corner, and Qualey kicked in the rebound.
“They just needed to settle in and once they finally settled down then we put another goal in and got a two-goal lead,” said Lindsay. “That is when I really felt confident in our ability and the fifth goal was icing on the cake.”
Tarr had four saves on 10 shots faced.
