By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
FORT FAIRFIELD – Sixth-year coach John Ala is excited about the prospects of this year’s Tiger boys soccer team. Through the first two regular season games – an overtime loss to Wisdom Friday and a shutout win at Van Buren Monday – the Fort squad has been impressive and is eyeing a return to the post-season after missing out last fall.
Staff photo/Kevin Sjoberg
Nate McLaughlin of the Fort Fairfield Tigers, center, looks to start an offensive attack during Friday’s home game against the Wisdom Pioneers. McLaughlin is the senior captain of the squad and is known as a cerebral player who will direct the team’s defense.
“I’m thrilled with how we’ve played so far,” Ala said. “Wisdom has just about everyone back and we lost to them by scores of 3-0 and 8-3 last year, so taking them to overtime was a nice achievement.
“We’re playing much better at this point in the season than we were a year ago,” he added.
The Tigers have been bolstered by the addition of three players who are competing at the high school level for the first time. Brothers Jahleel and LaGeorge Williams and Ian Girvan are new to the team, but have made an immediate impact. All three have broken into the starting lineup at the beginning of the season.
“They have really helped us,” Ala said. “I’ve been real happy with how fast they’ve picked up on the game and they are adjusting to our possession-style, control game.”
Jahleel Williams, a senior, starts at forward, while LaGeorge, a junior, is currently a starting midfielder. Girvan, also a senior, is a wing fullback.
The key veterans for the Tigers are seniors Nate McLaughlin, Travis Noyes, Austin Bixler and Derek Dufour.
McLaughlin, the team’s captain, plays center fullback and is responsible for running the defense, according to Ala. “He’s an excellent communicator and making sure [the defense] is organized,” Ala said. McLaughlin is very capable of making offensive runs out of the backfield, but Ala is hoping McLaughlin will make smart decisions considering the otherwise inexperienced fullback group.
Noyes has scored all three of his team’s goals so far this season and is a very skilled performer as a forward. “He is a high-intensity player who is strong in the air and who possesses a dangerous shot,” Ala said.
Bixler plays center midfield and always plays all-out and is reliable and consistent. Dufour, the other center midfielder, possesses the ball well and Ala is hoping he can give the team another scoring weapon.
The seventh senior, Kenny Hernandez, is a good ball striker who could work his way into the starting lineup.
Chris Weeks, a junior, returns for his second year as the starting goalkeeper. Last year was a growing experience, according to Ala, and this year he is playing with much more confidence. “He’s more vocal out there and has improved his game in so many areas,” said the coach.
Brandon Clark is another junior in his second year with the team. Ala said like Weeks, he is much improved with a year under his belt and will start at fullback.
Junior Will Adams will be a part of the Tigers’ midfield rotation and has worked hard on his game since last season.
Carl Smith and Travis Emerson are other juniors on the squad.
Andrew Tuck and Collin Cassidy are sophomores who will also see time at midfield. Tuck was a starter during the second half of last season.
Andrew Lewis and Austin Bernier are both first-year players as sophomores who will add to the team’s depth. Carter Shaw and Matthew Theriault are the lone freshmen on the team.
The assistant coaches are Mark Dillon, Cody Closson and Josh Churchill, while Jordan Sirois and Madeline Martin are the managers.
“This group just has to continue to work hard,” Ala said of his team’s potential. “We’re taking steps forward everyday.”
Last year’s team went 5-8-1 and fell out of the playoff picture. In the two years prior, the Tigers combined to go 22-8-1 and made it to the Eastern Maine Class D semifinals one year and into the quarterfinals the other.
“We have guys who have experienced success on the field,” Ala said. “The playoffs are a definite goal and I know our seniors are committed to making a playoff run.”
