Shires to host Orono today in regional final

By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    Houlton Assistant Coach Matt Swallow and Houlton girls’ coach Tim Tweedie took the sidelines of last Saturday’s Eastern Maine Class C semifinal in Madawaska. Swallow and Tweedie stepped up at a pivotal time for head coach Mike Carlos, who was recovering from knee surgery on Thursday in Portland. Though Carlos couldn’t be at Saturday’s game, he did get a chance to hear the celebration via cell phone.
    The No. 3 Shiretowners came away with upsetting No. 2 Madawaska on their home field, 1-0 in the Class C semifinals. The Shiretowners will host No. 4 Orono in the Class C finals at 3 p.m. today on the high school soccer field.
    Orono upset No. 1 Penquis 1-0 in penalty kicks in the semifinals at Milo. The Red Riots outshot the Patriots, 3-1 in the first round of penalty kicks.
    The Houlton boys soccer program has been involved in two Eastern Maine finals. One in 1984 with Jerry Tweedie and the most recent in 1997 under coach Matt Tardy.
    According to Houlton coach Tim Tweedie, this Class C final game is a “huge building block for Houlton soccer.”
    The players and coaches are hoping to have a strong contingent of fans in black and white to support the “Shire fire.”
    “I can promise everyone who comes to watch that they are going to be treated to some great soccer,” Tweedie said. “These kids are fast and athletic. They will be leaving everything on the field.”
    Both the Houlton girls and boys teams have worked hard this season, with the girls being dismissed from the tournament in the quarterfinals against Orono.
    “Carlos and I both take pride in how hard our kids work,” said Tweedie. “I have no doubt that our boys will give Orono everything they want.”
    Kyle Bouchard scored the winning goal, while goalie Kole Buzzeo stopped six of eight shots faced for the 13-2-1 Shires. For Madawaska, 12-1-2, goalie Kyle Blanchette set aside five of seven shots.
    The Houlton victory was a team effort with each player doing his role on the field. The Shires scored 24:12 into the game off a deep throw-in at their offensive end by Dan Swallow.
    “The boys knew that Madawaska’s field is narrow,” said Tweedie. “So, when you combine that with Dan’s ability to throw the ball a long way, it only made sense to use that weapon.”
    Once Swallow released the ball, Bouchard went aggressively to the ball and flicked it toward the far post with the side of his head.
    “It was an extremely smart play by Kyle,” Tweedie said. “He saw that the keeper had come out a bit to make a play on the throw. Instead of trying to drive it, Kyle placed it beautifully out of the keeper’s range and it [landed] in the back of the net.”
    Houlton’s defense needed to protect its lead by giving a solid defensive effort, spearheaded by freshman goalie Buzzeo.
    Madawaska’s Ian Lee was marked all game long by Swallow. Lee finished the season with 29 goals.
    “What can’t be understated is the boys’ ability to keep him under wraps,” Tweedie explained. “He didn’t see many good looks [on goal]. Dan had him frustrated all day.”
    When Lee would shake Swallow, Houlton defenders Ian Bauersfeld, Ethan Morse or Alex Casillas stepped up for support.
    “They did a great job of keeping Madawaska’s best player from taking over the game,” added Tweedie.
    But, what people are talking about and admiring is the performance of Buzzeo in the goal, as the difference-maker in the game. Madawaska was awarded a penalty kick and Buzzeo knocked the ball down on the first shot and tipped the rebound shot away.
    “Everyone is talking about the save on the penalty kick,” Tweedie said. “That really was one of the best saves I have ever seen. But, that wasn’t his only great save. He was unbelievable all game.”
    Buzzeo, according to Tweedie, blocked several balls that looked to be going in.
 “He managed to tip or squeeze them away,” he said. “The penalty kick save was just one of many truly awesome saves by Kole.”