Warriors suffer a heartbreaking semi

By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    It wasn’t fancy, but it got the job done. Easton’s Carl Mullen scored within the first three minutes of the second overtime to lift Easton over Southern Aroostook, 1-0 in quarterfinal action last Wednesday in Dyer Brook.
    “Not a pretty game overall,” said Easton coach Ryan Shaw. “It was back and forth between two even teams, the number four and five matchup and that is what you run into. It could have gone either way.”
    The similar No. 5 Bears and No. 4 Warriors went head-to-head to a double-overtime clash. The Bears went on to meet Bangor Christian in Saturday’s Class D semifinals and lost 4-2.
Houlton Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
BATTLE —  SACS’ Cody Lassonde, left, battles an opponent for position for the ball during last Wednesday’s semifinal game in Dyer Brook. The Warriors lost 1-0 in double overtime.
    “It was a well played game between two very even teams,” agreed SACS coach Cliff Urquhart of the semifinal. “I thought we had more quality chances, but they were the team that converted when it counted. Their freshman played very good soccer and made some solid contributions. Ryan does a good job with them. I was proud of the way our guys played.”
     First-half action was lively with both teams looking for that misplay to capitalize on. Though each team was in the other’s goal area, nothing was produced as the defenses made their stands on both sides.
    “We thought we got beat to the ball in the first half quite a bit,” explained Shaw. “We wanted to go wide and we just didn’t do that.”
    The second half began much like the first with both teams bearing down.  Jesse Boutilier said the Warriors were looking for momentum.
    “We tried to dig down deep and get it,” he said. “But …”
    Easton made several runs at the goal, but found Southern Aroostook’s Vance Gustin a hard man to shake.
Houlton Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
DEFENSE — Southern Aroostook’sWill McGary, left, and goalie Jesse Boulier defend against an Easton shot during last Wednesday’s EM Class D semifinal. The Warriors lost 1-0 in double overtime.
    “The ball was up the middle and on their sweeper’s foot a lot and they came right back over us and that wore us down a little bit,” Shaw added.
    Gustin played with ice water in his veins, as he remained calm and collected. Gustin was often the last defender as the Bears pressed. But, he would thwart the Bears’ chances with his long boot to clear the ball.
    Just as the Bears made their move, the Warriors had several opportunities within the last 15 minutes of regulation, including a near score from Pat Goodall. Goodall took the pass behind Easton’s defense and made a bee line toward the goal. As Goodall chipped the ball over a sliding Easton goalie Cody Tompkins, the ball sailed over the net, as well.
    The Warriors continued to chip away at the Bears’ defense, with shots wide and high, but none in the twine, forcing the first 15-minute overtime. Action was spirited and physical resulting in a second overtime period.
    The Bears were awarded a corner kick with 12:40 left in the second overtime. As Easton’s Nick Clark kicked the ball toward the front of the net, the ball hit the ground, shooting a high bounce toward Mullen, who was about 12 yards out to the right of SACS goalie Jesse Boulier. As Boulier attempted to grab the ball, Mullen headed it off the back of his neck over Boulier. The ball rolled freely into the opposite lower corner of the twine, as a Southern Aroostook defender could not reach it.
    Boulier had two saves on five shots for the 10-5-1 Warriors, while Easton’s Tompkins had four saves on 10 shots for the 14-3 Bears.
    “It was a lucky bounce on that one,” said Boulier after the game. “They played it right. It bounced across in the right spot.”
    Boulier didn’t hesitate and was pretty confident in his move to come out of the goal.
    “The ball just bounced off one of their teammates’ back and went in,” he said. “We played well. We stayed up with them. We played good as a team, we just couldn’t finish.”
Houlton Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
TAKING CHARGE — SACS senior Pat Goodall, left, takes the ball on a play in last Wednesday’s game against Easton. The Warriors lost the semifinal 1-0 in double overtime.
    “Carl is a pretty opportunistic player,” Shaw said. “He read the play and he was in the right place at the right time. It could have gone either way.”
    The Warriors finish at 10-5-1.
    “I felt the season overall was a success,” said Urquhart. “With a lot of new faces, I don’t think we knew really what we had until four or five games of the season were over. A bunch of kids stepped up and improved their game tremendously, working hard to improve and having it pay off.”
    *Three Warriors players — Pat Goodall, Joe Frazier and Cody Lassonde — were named to the All-Aroostook Class D Soccer Team.