By Joseph Cyr
Sports Editor
FORT FAIRFIELD — A youth movement is afoot in Fort Fairfield this fall as the Tiger girls soccer team gets ready for another competitive season. Underclassmen will be called upon to help shoulder the load for the Tigers this season as Fort Fairfield has just two seniors on the roster, along with six juniors, eight sophomores and eight freshmen.
Staff photo/Kevin Sjoberg
Logan Bubar, here getting a shot off during Friday’s home game against Wisdom, is one of eight freshmen on the Fort Fairfield girls varsity soccer squad. Bubar scored three goals against the Pioneers.
Fifth-year varsity coach Kerry Alley, who has been coaching girls soccer for 14 years overall, said the Tigers will be competitive for sure, but it may take some time for the new players to get accustomed to one another.
“We are very young this year,” Alley said. “With just two seniors, it will be both good and bad for us. It will be good for us for seasons to come.”
Fort Fairfield finished 7-6-1 a year ago, which was good enough for the eighth seed in the Eastern Class D tournament. The Tigers drew the tough card of facing No. 1 Southern Aroostook in the quarterfinals, a game they lost 3-1. Fort Fairfield was the only team to score a goal on Southern Aroostook in the postseason.
“I’m positive for the upcoming season,” coach Alley said. “We’re rebuilding, but I still think we can finish in the top six or so and make a playoff run.”
Members of the Fort Fairfield squad include: seniors Alyssa Murchison (midfielder) and Kaitlyn Kinsey (utility); juniors Kylie Plourde (striker), Kacie York (midfield), Lindsey Grace (offense), Danielle Tracy (defender), Katy Donovan (goalie) and Keagan Watts (striker). The sophomores are Becca Pelkey (defense), Veronica Plourde (defense), Victoria Plourde (defense), Jayana Williams (utility), Sydney Churchill (center midfield), Kellyn McGillan (defense), Emily Blaisdell (utility) and Kelsey Turner (striker). The freshmen include Alyssa Doughty (midfield), Cassidy Godin (midfield), Lindsay Blaisdell (defense), Abbey Player (midfield), Jessica Goshorn (defense), Janae Libby (utility), Nicole Giberson (midfield) and Logan Bubar (offense).
With 24 athletes on the varsity team — enough to field more than two full squads — and no junior varsity squad, playing time may be hard to come by for all on the roster. But that fact has done little to curb the enthusiasm for those involved with the team.
Coach Alley said she has high expectations for her two seniors and will look to them to take on a leadership role. Both seniors are four-year members of the varsity squad and have a good knowledge of what Alley expects of them.
“Kaitlyn [Kinsey] was my starting stopper last year, but we’re looking to utilize her more in the midfield some this year,” Alley said. “Alyssa played very well in the midfield for us last year and I expect her to do well.”
In goal, the Tigers will rely on Donovan to thwart would-be goal scorers. A three-year varsity starter, Donovan has a keen nose for the ball and has improved each year with her communication skills. The Tigers have a couple of backups in goal — Libby and Blaisdell — should the need arise.
Lost to graduation were Courtney Churchill, Kelsie Wilson, Emily Weissman and Sarah Hebert. While losing four players may not seem like much, coach Alley said those four were huge parts of the team. Churchill was one of the Tigers top scorers last season with six goals, while Hebert and Wilson were stalwarts on defense.
Fortunately, the Tigers have their top goal scoring threat back for another season in the form of Kylie Plourde. She was Fort Fairfield’s top scorer a season ago with eight goals.
The coach said she expects Pelkey to step into Wilson’s spot on the defensive side of the ball and make an immediate impact. Grace and Churchill will also be called upon to fill some of the offensive void.
Like many of the squads in Aroostook County, Fort Fairfield plays a number of its games early in the season, in order to break for the harvest recess.
“The key will be staying physically and mentally strong through those two to three weeks of harvest,” Alley said. “We need to keep ourselves in good condition through scrimmages and practices.”
