Washburn too much for DI-S in quarters
By Joseph Cyr
WASHBURN — A five-hour bus ride to Aroostook County was the least of the problems for the Deer Isle-Stonington girls soccer team Tuesday as the No. 5 Mariners (9-2-4) were shellacked by No. 4 Washburn 5-2 in an eastern Class D quarterfinal contest.
With the win, the Beavers (9-4-2) advanced to face No. 1 Ashland (10-2-1) in a semifinal game on Friday. Ashland advanced to the semifinals with a 2-1 victory over No. 8 Schenck (6-9). Ashland defeated Washburn 4-3 in overtime. (See additional story.)
The Beavers received goals from five different players in Tuesday’s game as Sara Sjoberg, Carsyn Koch, Carmen Bragg, Rebecca Campbell and Olivia Doody each had solo goals. Lindsey Blackstone had an assist for the Beavers.
Britnie Jones and Haley Brewer each scored a goal for the Marriners. Esther Adams added an assist.
Rayah Saucier had four saves on 15 shots for Washburn, while Deer Isle’s Chelsea Brown and Michaela Brown combined for 13 saves on 20 shots.
The Mariners had lost just one game prior to Tuesday’s playoff loss, which could have been a tough draw for Washburn. However, the Beavers home field proved advantageous as the longer grass helped slow down Deer Isle-Stonington’s speedy front line and allowed Washburn to play a control game for much of the contest.
“They [Deer Isle-Stonington] have a couple of quick players up front, so defensively we have to be on our toes,” Washburn coach Marcie Barbarula said. “Offensively, our girls have been putting the ball into the net better lately, so we need to continue doing that.”
The Beavers did precisely that as a tight 1-0 game at halftime turned into a rout in the second half as Washburn frustrated the Mariners’ front line by routinely stealing the ball away.
Sjoberg opened the scoring with 25:35 to play in the first half as she blasted a high lofting shot from about the 20-yard line that spun off the goalie’s hands and into the net for the 1-0 lead that held until halftime.
In the second half, Washburn picked up the scoring pace with a goal at the 31:54 mark when Blackstone battled for a loose ball in front of the net and found an open Koch at the 18-yard line. Koch promptly deposited the ball into the open net for the 2-1 lead.
Deer Isle-Stonington began to unravel following the second goal and Washburn capitalized as Bragg converted a one-on-one scoring chance with 22:26 to play.
The Mariners cut the lead to 3-1 with 17:28 to play, but Washburn countered less than a minute later as Campbell caught the Mariner defense napping with a header from about 10 yards out.
After Deer Isle-Stonington scored with 2:03 to go, Doody iced the game with a goal less than a minute to play.
“We were up here two years ago and that was a pretty physical game, so we kind of expected another one of those,” Deer Isle-Stonington coach Kristin Eberdt said.
Stopping Jones, the Mariners’ top scoring threat with 17 goals on the season, was the primary focus for Washburn. That plan worked to perfection, as Jones routinely was double and triple teamed on the field, limiting her effectiveness.
“The girls played with intensity, senior leadership and worked very well communicating with each other,” coach Barbarula said.
Washburn came into the game at full strength, but that did not last for long as Meghan Saucier injured her left arm in the first half of Tuesday’s game and was unable to return.
Staff photo/Joseph Cyr
HILLARY JACKSON of the Washburn Beavers looks to bring the ball ahead during last Tuesday’s match against Deer Isle-Stonington. The Beavers pulled off a 5-2 victory in the quarterfinal.
