Hornet boys enjoy ride
to regional championship
By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
ASHLAND — The Hornet boys’ varsity soccer team has overcome some major hurdles in reaching the Eastern Maine Class D championship match.
PUNCH OUT — Ashland goalkeeper D.J. Dozier punches away a loose ball, while Southern Aroostook’s Cameron Landry and Hornet teammates Brett Stratton and Nicholas Belanger (19) are also in on the play during Friday’s match against the Warriors. 
Ashland won, 4-2.
Late in the regular season, the team lost star player Mark Chasse to a season-ending injury.
The team was still able to claim the No. 3 position in the final Heal Point standings, but had to get past a difficult opponent in No. 11 Central Aroostook last Wednesday.
The Panthers, who had upset sixth-ranked Shead in the prelim round match played in Eastport, had control of the quarterfinal until Ashland converted the tying goal with three minutes to play on a successful penalty kick by Nicholas Belanger, who has made all five he has attempted this season.
Just 1:18 into the first overtime period, Tyler Chasse scored off an assist by Alex Chasse to give Ashland the 3-2 triumph.
“When a team continues to press forward and not be discouraged by going behind, that team always deserves a good result.,” coach Mark Stanley said. “The boys showed tremendous heart, class and discilpline — traits that we have displayed all year.”
The Panthers had gone ahead 2-1 on goals by Joe Stiles and Dane Kingsbury. Cody Blair scored Ashland’s first goal.
“It was pretty much like the rest of our season, controlling play for most of the game and coming up just short in the end,” said CA coach Dave Collins.
In Friday’s home semifinal against No. 7 Southern Aroostook, Ashland again trailed early, only to come back on the strength of goals by Belanger, Tyler Chasse, Blair and Tyler Levesque for the 4-2 win.
SA was without one of its top scorers, Trenton Cullinan, who was injured in the team’s quarterfinal victory over Wisdom, but grabbed the lead on a Cody Lassonde goal.
Stanley gave credit to a number of his players, including junior midfielder Adam Sessoms and freshman left wing Zachary Carr, who have helped fill in in the absence of Mark Chasse.
He also said the defense, led by Alex Chasse, Levesque, Belanger and Alex O’Clair, “kept [Southern Aroostook’s] sharp players quiet and allowed our offense to flow.”
The Hornets face a difficult challenge when they play three-time defending Class D champion Bangor Christian Patriots in a scheduled 5:30 p.m. start at Hampden Academy today.
“It will be a fantastic occasion and I’m so proud our team is part of it,” Stanley said. “Bangor Christian, like us, play soccer the way it is meant to be played — with creativity, class, discipline, speed and heart. I can’t wait to line up against such great opposition.”
Stanley said it will be important for his squad to capitalize on its scoring chances to have a chance to pull off the upset victory.
“Cody, Tyler and Michael (Cook) are masters in front of the goal and when their chance comes, I know they will capitalize,” he said.
“It will be a difficult task, but our team is no stranger to uphill battles.”
