By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
The Caribou Vikings’ boys varsity soccer team started the season with a pair of losses behind a stagnant offense, but last week was a much different story.
Caribou was able to put eight goals on the scoreboard while recording victories over both Fort Kent and John Bapst, evening the team’s record at 2-2 heading into a key showdown against the defending Eastern Maine Class B champion Ellsworth Eagles Saturday afternoon in Ellsworth.
I was pleased with our performance in both games,” said second-year Viking coach Scott Hunter. “Not only did we continue to win the possession game, but we generated quality chances and converted them into goals.
“We focused during the week on finishing chances and tweaked the front line a bit and the boys did a great job attacking the net and scoring.”
At Fort Kent, Caribou bolted out to a 2-0 lead, only to see the hosts come back to tie the score. However the Vikes came through with the tie-breaker to claim the win in the crucial road contest.
“[Scoring the first two goals] took a lot of the pressure off of us,” Hunter said. “Although Fort Kent tied it, we had the fortitude to come back and get the next goal and the win.”
Dean Walker, Sean Barbosa and Lucien Caverhill had goals, with Walker and Colby Holdsworth notching assists. Matthew Manter saved six of 12 shots in goal for the Vikings.
On Saturday, Caribou once again took the early lead and never let up in a 5-1 triumph at home over John Bapst.
“We came out strong, scoring three goals in the first 15 minutes of the game. We played very well and with confidence and had contributions from everyone,” said the coach. “Our veterans played a very strong game and our two freshmen both made positive contributions, with Ethan Plourde playing most of the second half in net due to an injury to Manter.
“I was pleased that we did not let them back in the game and were able to put the game away in the second half.”
Nolan McDuffie had a pair of goals, while Walker scored one and assisted on two others to lead Caribou’s attack. Caverhill and Matt Milliard also scored and Cody Herbert and Barbosa added assists.
Manter and Plourde combined for three saves on eight shots. Caribou peppered Crusader goalie Adam Strang with 23 shots.
The Caribou girls improved their record to 4-2 after beating both Madawaska and John Bapst this past week.
In last Wednesday’s 2-0 win at Madawaska, Delaney Williams and Katelyn Tardie were the goal scorers and Morgan Outing made nine saves on 13 shots for the shutout in goal. Erin Patton had an assist for the Vikes.
On Saturday, Olivia Sleeper, Kendra Stephens and Sarah Doak had a goal apiece as Caribou beat the visiting Crusaders, 3-1. Williams had an assist and Outing saved four of eight shots for the winners, who next play at Ellsworth Saturday.
The Limestone-MSSM girls and boys are both at 2-3 following home losses to Madawaska Friday.
The Eagle girls jumped out to a 1-0 lead behind a Daniele Pelkey goal off Mariah Williams’ assist with 13:53 to play in the first half, but the Owls knotted things 4-1/2 minutes later and got the game winner from Sam Nadeau with 25:39 to play in regulation.
In the boys’ matchup, Tristan Kirk scored the Eagles’ lone goal in a 4-1 loss to a strong Madawaska squad.
Both Limestone-MSSM resumed their schedules with home games against Van Buren last night. The teams’ next games are at home against Washburn Tuesday, Sept. 18.
The Washburn girls came up with a couple big wins last week, the first over Easton Thursday, 2-0. Nicole Olson had a first-half goal and Mackenzie Worcester scored in the second half and the Washburn defense and goalie Rayah Saucier (10 saves on 17 shots) did the rest.
The Beavers also bested Ashland in a road game Monday, 2-1, to improve to 7-1-1 on the season.
The Beaver boys were beaten by Easton Thursday, but came up with a big 3-3 tie on the road against undefeated Ashland Monday. In the win, Mitchell Worcester, Nick Bragg and Alex Pelletier helped stake Washburn to a three-goal lead before the Hornets stormed back to tie the score.
Fort Fairfield’s girls tied Easton last Tuesday, 1-1, after the Bears had won the first matchup between the two teams last month. Taylor Churchill came through with the tying goal midway through the second half after Carla Halvorson had given Easton the lead earlier in the half. Sarah Watt made 12 saves on 26 shots for FF.
The Tigers also scored a big 3-0 win over Fort Kent Friday and are now 4-2-1 on the year.
The Fort boys dropped a pair of matches – 1-0 to Easton last Tuesday and 2-0 to Fort Kent Friday.
