Sports Editor
CARIBOU — One might think that the Caribou girls soccer team was headed for a rebuilding year after losing nine seniors to graduation.
Think again. The Vikings may have lost nine valuable members of last year’s squad, but the team still has a bundle of talented returning athletes to get the job done on the pitch this season.
Caribou finished 11-3 in the regular season, which earned the Vikings the No. 5 seed in Eastern Class B. Caribou (12-4 overall) faced Belfast in the preliminary round, and was victorious 4-1. The Vikings then fell to Ellsworth 3-0 in the quarterfinals.
“We may have lost nine seniors, including six starters, but the bulk of those players were on defense,” ninth-year coach Todd Albert said. “I wouldn’t say we are rebuilding this year. We shouldn’t take any step backwards this year.”
Members of the Viking squad include seniors Brittany Doak (keeper), Abby Small (midfielder), Liz Barbosa (stopper), Erin Buck (defender), Mallory Thompson (forward), and Danielle Soucy (midfielder); juniors Jenna Selander (striker), Lydia Kieffer (midfielder), Kayla Collins (midfielder), Brianna Gorence (defender), Madison Outing (midfielder), Danielle Viollette (midfielder), and Jessica Zbylut (midfielder); sophomores Jamie Martin (striker), Paige Small (midfielder/defender), Tia McHatten (defender), Samantha Murchison (striker/midfielder), Katie Keaton (defender), Sarae Sager (defender), Morgan Swan (keeper/utility); and freshmen Olivia Sleeper (midfielder), Ginger Kieffer (defender) and Meredith Sleeper (midfielder).
Numerous others tried out for the team, but coach Albert had to trim the roster down to a manageable amount.
Selander had a phenomenal sophomore season for the Vikings, falling just one goal shy of tying a school record for goals scored as she booted in 18 goals last season.
She was named to the Penobscot Valley Conference first-team all stars for her efforts. Selander is back for another season with the Vikings, and according to her coach, is eager to set a new school record this season.
The Vikings also have a stud goalie in Doak, who will be called upon to anchor the defense this year. Doak was a PVC All-Conference athlete last year.
The team has already suffered one setback this year as Barbosa is expected to miss up to six weeks after breaking a bone in her foot during practice.
“That’s a big loss for sure,” coach Albert said. “We now have nobody returning in the backfield, except for our keeper. If we are able to possess the ball in the front half of the field, until the backfield gets settled, we should be alright.”
Caribou’s varsity squad defeated an alumnae team 3-1 in exhibition this summer. Many members of that alumnae team were on last year’s squad.
“I expect us to be competitive in all of our games,” coach Albert said. “We should be able to score a lot of goals, as 41 of the 47 goals we scored last year were by returning players this year.”
Presque Isle – the defending Eastern Class B champs – will once again be one of the Vikings’ toughest foes. Another new wrinkle for Caribou is a change in the team’s schedule, which will see the team face every opponent in the PVC this year.
Caribou opens its season 7 p.m. Thursday when the Vikings travel to Madawaska.
