CA boys and Easton girls

take varsity soccer openers

By Joseph Cyr

Sports Editor

EASTON — It may be several weeks before all of the schools report back to session in Aroostook County, but the fall sports season just couldn’t wait.

    Regular season play began Friday for several Class D schools, while the Class B squads have a couple more weeks of practice before taking to the pitch.
    In Easton Friday, the host Bears got off to a sweltering start as the girls soccer squad defeated Central Aroostook 3-2 in the season opener for both teams. On the upper field, the Central Aroostook boys picked up where the team left off a season ago, scoring at will against opponents, as the Panthers routed Easton 10-5.
Panther boys victorious
    In the boys game, Central Aroostook scored early and often as the Panthers doubled up Easton 10-5. The Panthers were 11-3 a season ago and competed in the Eastern Class D championship. Easton was 5-9 last season.
    Junior Dan Brewer collected two hat tricks on the day as he booted in six goals to lead Central Aroostook. Junior Spencer Stetson had three goals of his own and added an assist in the lop-sided victory. Junior Brandon Anthony added a goal and an assist, while senior Tyler Rusby and sophomore Dylan Murray each had one assist.
    For Easton, Junior Holden Turner scored four goals and added an assist, while junior Reid Clark added a goal and two assists. Freshman Ian Sotomayor also had an assist.
    Easton junior goalie Cody Tompkins was busy in the net for the Bears as he stopped 18 of 31 shots. Panther junior goalie Ross Grass had 14 saves on 21 shots. The Panthers held a 6-5 edge in corner kicks.
    “We have a good core back with us from last year, but our defense is young,” Central Aroostook coach Wally Endy said. “I liked our passing and our aggressiveness to the ball today. We were able to create some plays, which was nice. We also scored in ways we don’t normally, on headers and corner kicks.”
    Easton found itself behind the eight ball from the opening kick as the Bears were only able to field 11 players, which meant no breaks for athletes to catch their breath.
    “Last night (Thursday) was our first practice with all 11 guys, so that put us behind a bit to start the season,” Easton coach Ryan Shaw said. “But there are only 27 boys in the entire school, so we’re doing the best we can.”
Bears win girls contest
    The scrappy Easton Bears, 9-4-1 a season ago scored first and last in Friday’s game to preserve a 3-2 victory over Central Aroostook. The Panthers were 4-8-2 a season ago.
    “The game was pretty intense going back and forth,” Easton coach Rachel Tomlinson said. “This couldn’t have been a better game to start off our season. We are thrilled for the win, but just being able to compete with a stronger team in our first game gives us more confidence.”
    Easton’s Carla Halvorson scored the first goal for the Bears from a Sydney Trask pass. Central Aroostook countered when Vicki McIntyre creased the net for CAHS to tie the game 1-1.
    Easton went back on top when Meghan Frank sent a perfect pass to Ariana Babineau to give Easton a 2-1 lead. Central Aroostook once again answered as Panther Sarah Grass tied the game 2-2 with an unassisted goal.
    The game-winning goal came from a penalty kick from Carla Halvorson with a 16:26 remaining after the Panthers were called for a handball inside the penalty area.
    “The game was evenly matched the whole time,” Tomlinson said. “CA beat us up and down the field the first half of the game with their speed, but we were able to slow them down by the second half. CA had a chance to tie the game with less than 10 seconds to go with a shot that fell about a foot too wide of the goal.”
    Freshman Haley Ambrose, a newcomer to the sport of soccer, made 11 saves on 28 shots for Easton, while CA goalie Paige Garrison made 14 saves on 24 shots.

Staff photos/Joseph Cyr

ABOUT TO COLLIDE in front of the net are Dan Brewer, left, of Central Aroostook and Easton goalie Cody Tompkins during Friday’s game. Brewer scored six goals in the Panthers’ 10-5 victory.