Warriors’ season ends

By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    Injuries plagued the Southern Aroostook Warriors soccer team this season and in the playoffs, they hit again.
    In the Warriors’ preliminary game against Wisdom, Trent Cullinan scored both goals for Southern Aroostook in their win, including the game-winner in overtime. The Warriors advanced to the Class D semifinals in Ashland with a 2-1 victory.
    However, Cullinan was injured on a play in the Wisdom game and was rendered unable to play in the semifinal game.
Contributed photograph
HEADER — Gage LeFay of Southern Aroostook goes high to head the ball away from an Ashland player.
    “Losing Trent left us with a short bench,” said coach Cliff Urquhart. “It was indicative of the entire season and what the team has gone through with injuries and playing short-handed.”
    Will McGary and Dylan Porter were on the disabled list, as well. Along with the injuries, Southern Aroostook played with a shallow bench.
    “During the last half of the season in most games we played in, we played with 11 or 12 players,” said Urquhart.
    The Warriors finish the year, 11-5-1. Southern Aroostook reached the semifinals for the fourth time in five years.
    “We were small in size and numbers, but big on determination,” said Urquhart. “We went into this game the same way we approached the rest of our playoff games, with a nothing to lose attitude.”
    The Warriors opened the semifinal game in Ashland on Cody Lassonde’s  goal coming within the first 20 minutes of action.
    “That really gave us a confidence boost early,” added Urquhart. “The kids were like ‘we can play with these guys.’”
    Ashland tied the score before halftime on a penalty kick.
    “As the game went on, we started to wear down a little,” Urquhart said. “The long minutes started to take their toll.”
    Ashland was able to break through Southern Aroostook’s defense to take a 3-1 advantage. The Warriors battled back when Cam Landry set up a cross to Lassonde on a designed set play, said Urquhart, to bring the score to within a goal.
    A late Ashland goal gave the Hornets the insurance goal and win, 4-2.
    “It was a well-played game by both teams,”  Urquhart said. “I am extremely proud of the way these kids finished the season. It would have been easy to give up and throw in the towel, but they kept fighting and it paid off.”
    The Warriors turned in a successful season despite the obstacles they faced.
    “We exceeded all reasonable expectations,” said Urquhart. “Coming in, I think the perception was that  it was a rebuilding year, as we were really young.”
    Urquhart noted that different guys stepped up each game and played big roles.
    “The defense and midfield stepped up their game tremendously,” he said. “We were not a possession team in the latter half of the year, we relied on converting our chances and it worked.”