By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
HOWLAND, Maine — The Washburn Beavers were winless in their last five regular season games, but they were able to put things together in Friday’s Eastern Maine Class D playoff preliminary game. Washburn, seeded ninth in the division, got a goal from Noah Farley in overtime to defeat No. 8 Penobscot Valley, 1-0.
After both teams went scoreless during regulation, the host Howlers had a golden opportunity to end it early in OT. On a breakaway inside the 18-yard box, a Washburn player made a great back tackle to keep it 0-0.
“I thought it was going to be a game-ender,” said Beaver coach Ben Goodwin. “But I really think after that, we turned the table and put a bit of offense together, which ended up being the surge that ended the game.”
According to Goodwin, the game-winning goal was made possible after Noah Caron made a great pass to Farley’s foot out wide on the right side. Farley made a decision to put the ball on net. It was a well-placed ball and after PVHS goalkeeper Joseph Higgins had made a step out, he couldn’t recover and the ball went off his glove into the back of the net.
Jarrett Olson had 11 saves on 13 shots for the Beavers, while Higgins saved 21 of 22 for PVHS.
Next up for Washburn, who improved to 5-6-3, is undefeated and No. 1 Easton, who beat the Beavers twice during the regular season by scores of 3-0 and 4-0. The third meeting between the two teams is set for 2:30 p.m. this afternoon.
“Easton will be tough and the two times we played them, we were at a low point of our season,” Goodwin said. “I know that we are more than capable of earning the win as long as we come to play and stick with the game plan.
“I have a lot of respect for Easton and they have been playing some great soccer throughout this year. My boys see that and I know it will push them to work harder and dig deeper,” he added.
