Abby Maker’s high school soccer career ended last May when she injured her left knee while playing for Seacoast United, her club team, in a state tournament. But her desire to play for a Division I college remains.

“An overhead ball was sent from one of the midfielders,” said Maker, a Cheverus High senior. “I was at the top of the (penalty area) and I was just about to flick the ball past the goalie and she cleaned out my knee. It was an accident.”

Doctors had to repair the medial collateral ligament and a torn meniscus, and replace the anterior cruciate ligament.

Maker, a striker who led Cheverus in scoring the past two seasons, is leaning toward Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn., and the University of New Hampshire, but intends to attend prep school for a year before starting college.

Maker plans to resume playing during the indoor season at the end of December.

“I can start getting touches on the ball during the next two months,” she said. “I’ll train six days a week during the winter and try to get stuff back.”

Meanwhile, Maker is helping the Cheverus coaching staff.

“I just love to be around soccer,” she said. “I’m just kind of helping when (the players) come off the field, telling them what they should be doing and what they should be working on.”

EVEN COACH Sam Chard is surprised how Mt. Ararat has started the season in the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference’s Class A division.

“I did not expect to start 6-0,” said Chard, in his 19th season as coach of the Eagles. “We’re a fairly young team but we’ve got some talented young kids.”

The lineup includes six freshmen, most of whom play regularly.

“The whole starting backfield are freshmen and I’ve got some young, fast legs who can go in and out on the wings,” said Chard. “We’ve been able to cycle through, so I think the depth is definitely there this year in the back end and on the attack.”

The Eagles, atop the Eastern Class A Heal point standings, outscored their first six opponents 16-6 with two shutouts.

“We’re doing pretty well as far as denying the shots,” Chard said. “The defense is pretty quick and the midfield is starting to (come together).”

On Tuesday night, Mt. Ararat relied on defense in a 1-0 victory against previously unbeaten Cony in Augusta.

“There already have been tough games,” Chard said, “and we know there will be some more tough games.”

On Friday, the Eagles will travel to play Bangor, Eastern Class A’s other unbeaten team.

KEY MATCHUPS: Falmouth (5-0) will play Greely (5-1) at 6 p.m. Friday on the Rangers’ natural turf field at Cumberland in a game between two contenders in the Western Maine Conference.

In the SMAA, Windham and Gorham, two tough Class A opponents, will meet at noon Saturday in Gorham.

Paul Betit can be contacted at 791-6424 or at:

pbetit@pressherald.com

Twitter: PaulBetitPPH