Teams vie for spots in postseason

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    The fall soccer season is rapidly coming to a close as teams are busy jockeying for key playoff position. The last countable day for soccer games is Tuesday, Oct. 18, with preliminary playoffs commencing on Oct. 21 and 22.
    As of Monday afternoon, six teams — Houlton boys and girls, Southern Aroostook boys and girls, Katahdin boys and East Grand girls — were all the playoff mix, while the Greater Houlton Christian Academy/Hodgdon boys team was on the proverbial postseason bubble.
    In boys Eastern Class C, Houlton (9-2, 64.1582 points) was third, while GHCA/Hodgdon (6-6, 21.8878) was 12th. Only the top 11 squads make the playoffs in this region. GHCA/Hodgdon hosts Houlton 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in a huge Heal Point contest and ends its season at East Grand 4 p.m. Friday. A win against Houlton would all but assure GHCA/Hodgdon of making the postseason.
    Houlton is playoff bound regardless of the outcome of its finals three games, but where the Shires finish is still up for grabs. Houlton plays at Calais (7-2-1 and seventh) 2 p.m. Saturday and rounds out its season at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18 at Madawaska (9-0-1, and second in the region).
    If Houlton remains as the No. 3 seed, the Shires would earn a first-round bye and host a quarterfinal game against the winner of the No. 6-11 matchup, currently Lee Academy (sixth) and George Stevens Academy (11th). The Shires split with Lee Academy in the regular season, losing 4-2 on the road and winning 4-0 at home. Houlton did not play GSA of Blue Hill in the regular season.
    In boys Eastern Class D, Southern Aroostook (8-3-1, 38.2908) is fifth; Katahdin (1-10, 7.6531) is 14th and East Grand (0-7, no points) is last in the 21-team region. The top 14 squads make the postseason. SACS is fresh off a thrilling 3-1 victory over Central Aroostook Friday. The Warriors play at Woodland (7-3, sixth) 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11 and finish the season against Madawaska (a Class C squad) 7 p.m. Thursday in Presque Isle.
    If the Warriors remain as the fifth seed, they would host a preliminary playoff against the No. 12 seed (currently Wisdom, 2-8-1) on Oct. 22. The two teams did not play in the regular season.
    Katahdin has a slim hold on the 14th and final playoff spot in the region. The Cougars played Ashland  (2-9, 11th) Tuesday in Presque Isle, host Fort Fairfield (2-8-1, 13th) Friday at 3:30 p.m. and end the season hosting Schenck (4-8, 15th) Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 3:30 p.m. For the Cougars it’s simple … win and stay in.
    In girls Eastern Class C, Houlton (7-4-1, 41.9133) is ranked fifth, while Hodgdon/GHCA (0-12, no points) is 17th. The Shires play at Hodgdon/GHCA Wednesday, at 3:30 p.m. and end their season hosting Madawaska Monday, Oct. 17 at 6 p.m.
    If the Shires remain fifth, they would host a preliminary playoff Friday, Oct. 21 against the No. 12 seed, currently Sumner (3-7-1) of East Sullivan. The two teams did not meet during the regular season.
    In girls Eastern Class D, Southern Aroostook (8-2-2, 49.7187) is second, while East Grand (5-4, 21.6508) is 11th. The top 11 squads make the playoffs. SACS played at Woodland (4-6, 12th) Tuesday and ends its season hosting Greenville (8-4, second in Western Class D) Thursday at 3 p.m.
    If the Warriors remain second, they would earn a first-round bye and face the winner of the No. 7-10 matchup — currently Easton (6-4-1) and Calvary Chapel (5-4-2). The Warriors did not face either squad during the regular season.
    East Grand hosts Easton Tuesday and ends its season hosting Hodgdon/GHCA Friday, at 2 p.m. A win in either of those games would go a long way in securing a playoff spot for East Grand. If East Grand remains 11th, it would travel to the No. 6 seed (currently Deer Isle-Stonington) for a preliminary playoff Friday, Oct. 21. The two teams did not play during the regular season.