Sports Reporter
WASHBURN — It wasn’t easy, but the Washburn girls’ varsity soccer team has earned the right to play in the Eastern Maine championship for the first time in school history.
Contributed photo/jMavor Photography
MacKenzie Worcester maneuvers around a Schenck defender for a shot attempt during last Tuesday’s match in Washburn. Worcester managed a hat trick in the Beavers’ 5-0 victory.
In Friday’s semifinal, the Beavers needed some great saves in goal by Rayah Saucier, espeically in the second half and in overtime, before sophomore MacKenzie Worcester drilled in a direct kick with 1:30 to play in the extra session for a 2-1 victory over Fort Fairfield.
“Rayah stepped it up and made some huge saves,” said Washburn coach Marcie Barbarula. “She does a great job reading shots and knows which angles to cut off.”
The biggest save came 2:25 into the first overtime period when the Tigers’ Emily Blaisdell had a one-on-one with Saucier directly in front of the goal. Blaisdell made good contact, but Saucier caught the line drive shot to extend the game.
Following a Fort Fairfield foul just outside the penalty area, Worcester ripped a shot to the left of the Tiger wall and just past FF goalie Sarah Watt to the lower left of the goal to end it.
Worcester now has 58 goals and owns the school record in the category.
Laina Mette scored off a Maegan Fitzpatrick assist for the Beavers’ first-half goal, while Janae Libby scored off a Logan Bubar pass in the second for FF.
Fort, the region’s No. 4 seed, finished with a 9-5-2 record.
The Beavers, now 14-4-1, also defeated Schenck in last Tuesday’s quarterfinal round, 5-0. Worcester tallied three goals, while Kennedy Churchill and Carmen Bragg had the others. Bragg, Mikayla Churchill and Mette notched assists.
Next up for Washburn is Penobscot Valley High School of Howland. The game is scheduled for Thursday at 2 p.m. in Washburn, but could be moved to Presque Isle’s turf field depending upon rain amounts. Either way, Barbarula said her team will be ready.
“We need to come out and play hard for 80 minutes,” Barbarula said. “We have to be aggressive in beating them to the ball and play a passing possession game. Most of all, communication is going to be the biggest key.”
