Presque Isle wins EM B title,
falls just short in state game
By Jon Gulliver
Staff writer
HAMPDEN — The Presque Isle Wildcats ended the year on a down note losing to Falmouth 1-0 in the State Class B girl’s soccer championship, but it wasn’t for a lack of effort with a second-half effort which earned high praise from both head coaches.
The first 10-minutes of the match played on the artificial turf of Hampden Academy on Saturday morning, was full of end-to-end play, with both sides evenly matched. From the 30-minute mark of the first half the Yachtsmen turned up their offensive pressure and had several good scoring opportunities, finally breaking through with a goal by junior Alex Bernier, scored off a cross by fellow junior Caitlin Bucksbaum with about seven minutes left in the half. Bernier received the pass about eight yards in front of the goal and sent it into the side of the net, just past the outstretched arms of Wildcat keeper junior Meredith Stewart.
Staff photo/Jon Gulliver
RUNNERS-UP — The Presque Isle girl’s soccer team holds up the State Class B runner-up trophy after being defeated 1-0 by Falmouth on Saturday morning at Hampden Academy.
“I thought we started the game with a purpose and conviction,” said Falmouth coach Wally LeBlanc. “It could have gone either way. We got a goal and they didn’t. I can’t say it was something spectacular we did. It was a hard-fought battle.”
Falmouth had a 7-1 edge in shots on goal and took the only four corner kicks of the first half.
Presque Isle came out in the second half with added energy and controlled much of the play, but couldn’t find the back of the net. The Wildcats’ best opportunity came about four and a half minutes into the second half when sophomore Shea Brown received a chip into the box and fired at the goal, only to have the Falmouth keeper, junior Caroline Lucas, make a jumping save.
The Wildcats got off eight quality shots in the second half.
“That last 40-minutes of the game is the most proud I have ever been about a group of kids,” said Presque Isle coach Ralph Michaud. “We just put the pressure on them, but couldn’t squeak one through.”
Presque Isle senior Chelsea Nickerson, who played sweeper for most of the game, but moved to wing in the last three minutes as the Wildcats looked for the equalizing goal, said she is proud of the way Presque Isle kept fighting back in the contest.
Staff photo/Jon Gulliver
UP FOR GRABS — Kayla Richards (11) of Presque Isle and Megan Miller (15) of Falmouth both make a break for the ball in the State Class B Championship game held Saturday in Hampden. Falmouth scored a goal late in the first half and despite an impressive second half by the Wildcats the Yachtsmen won 1-0.
“We put 100 percent into the game and left everything on the field,” she said. “This was a great senior year and I am so proud of everyone.”
“We put everything into it, it just wasn’t our day,” said senior Elise Jones. “We put our heart and soul into the game
Seniors Hillary Albert and Kayla Richards said the run through the playoffs meant everything to the team.
“Our song is ‘We are Family’ and, as a family, we definitely grew through he playoffs,” said Albert. “It was all about heart and determination.”
“I am going to remember where we started, how much we grew after that early season loss to Hermon,” Richards said. “It was obvious how much we grew as a team and as a family.”
This is the second consecutive state championship for the Falmouth girls, but this one was with a new coach, LeBlanc, and several new players. The team that beat the Caribou Vikings last year graduated 10 seniors.
Presque Isle wrapped up the season at 15-2-1.
The Wildcats reached the state final by winning the Eastern Maine Class B title over the Hermon Hawks on Wednesday at the Johnson Athletic Complex in Presque Isle.
Presque Isle, unlike two close games in the quarter and semifinals, dominated the Hawks for the entire 80 minutes to gain a 2-0 victory.
Staff photo/Jon Gulliver
CHARGING THE NET — Chandler Guerrette (14) makes a hard charge after the ball, just as Hermon goalie, Mikayla Treadwell, makes the save. Guerrette would score both of Presque Isle’s goals as the Wildcats stopped the Hawks 2-0 in the Eastern Maine Class B final.
Chandler Guerrette scored both goals, one in each half. The first goal came with just under two minutes remaining in the opening half. Senior Kayla Richards hit a shot from the left side, 15 yards out, that went wide of the Hermon goalkeeper right to Guerrette, who tapped the ball in from directly in front of the goal.
The second goal came about seven minutes into the second half when Chelsea Nickerson lobbed the ball into the box and Guerrette got behind the Hermon keeper and tapped the ball into the net.
While Guerrette was busy scoring goals, the defense stepped up to limit the number of scoring opportunities for Hermon. The Hawks only had eight shots on goal to Presque Isle’s 13.
“It was a tremendous team win,” said coach Michaud. “I could tell our defense was playing well when Hermon was settling for shots from long-range.”
