Close, but all so far away!
Last season, Duane Goud’s Wiscasset High School girls soccer team finished 4-10 and out of the Western Maine Class C playoff picture.
But, a goal here, or a goal there and the Wolverines might have been right in the thick of things come postseason time.
“We had a bunch of close games last year, in fact I can only remember an early-season loss to Lisbon where the game got away from us,” said Goud, who returns a vast majority of his team this season, with Wiscasset’s Mountain Valley Conference opener slated for Sept. 1 at Carrabec. “These girls have a lot of confidence coming into this season, with our goal to double our win total.”
But, Goud’s junior and sophomore classes are deep with numbers, and, more importantly, a year wiser since nearly all of the returning players garnered significant playing time last season.
“All those sophomores and juniors have experience, so I am not worried, and I feel confident they are ready to take that next step,” said Goud.
Juniors Briana Goud (midfielder, fighting a summer soccer league knee injury), Michaela Trudeau (defense), Sarah Hanley (MF/forward), Maddy Wehrle (MF/F), Kasey Cromwell (F) and Shania Marr (F) each started last season, while 10 sophomores and five freshmen fill out the roster.
Coach Goud is excited to have sophomore goaltender Kayla Gordon this season. Gordon missed her freshman year after foot surgery. This forced Cromwell into the cage for the team’s first nine games before Carolyn Footer played the final five contests, freeing Cromwell to do what she does best — score!
“It was frustrating to not be on the field, helping my teammates,” said Gordon. “We have a good defense in front of me, so my job will be that last line of defense. I am excited to be back on the field.”
Katie-Lyn Mills (F), Maeve Carlson (MF/F), Alecia Faulkingham (F), Rachel Berry (defense), Trinity Jacques (MF), Shelby Johnson (D/MF), Tylan Onorato (D), Miranda McIntire (F), Hanna Foye (D) and Gordon are coach Goud’s sophomores, while the freshman newcomers are Erika Auger (MF), Kennedy Orr (MF/F), Sam Arsenault (D), Colleen Hendricks (D) and Sara Grenier (MF).
“It’s important that we remember every game is important, and seeing each MVC opponent one time each makes every point big,” concluded coach Goud.
Boys soccer
Wayne Benn’s Wolverines are the very definition of young in regards to soccer experience.
When tryouts for this year’s team began, Benn looked on as just 11 kids appeared that first day, the minimum amount required to play a high school soccer contest. So, the players and their coach went into recruiting mode, finding four more athletes to fill out the roster.
The biggest problem, as Benn sees it, is several of his Wolverines haven’t stepped foot on the soccer pitch since the sixth grade.
“We had to work on the basics early, with some not remembering what offsides was,” said Benn before watching his team battle hard in a 1- 1 deadlock with Medomak Valley on Tuesday in a preseason contest. “We will have to learn how each other plays to have success, but they are good boys who are willing to work hard to get better.”
Benn, whose squad finished 6-5-3 in 2011, has six returning players, led by seniors Zach Ellison (sweeper) and Ryan Hanley (D/MF). Juniors Logan Grover (F) and David Marcus (F), and sophomores Mason Whitaker (MF) and Camden Reiss (D/MF) also return to the fold.
Juniors Matt Mills (D) and Matt Johnson (D) are among the nine newcomers, along with sophomores Dale Peaslee (D), Andrew Corson (F/MF) and Travis Padilla (D/GK), and freshmen JD Souza (MF), Nate Mills (GK), Bryson Grover (F/MF) and Alex Webber (D/MF).
“The key for us is learning the speed of the game and focus on getting rid of the ball quickly,” said Benn, whose Wolverines visit Carrabec on Sept. 1 in their MVC opener. “It will be a battle, with St. Dom’s, Lisbon, Hall-Dale, Dirigo and Mt. Abram expected to be good. We will do our best and try to improve each day.”
Golf
Tim Flanagan enters this season with high hopes as his balanced squad opens the MVC slate on Monday at Sheepscot Links against St. Dom’s and Telstar.
“I’m optimistic this team will pull each other along,” said the veteran coach.
Junior returnee Chandler Longfellow moves up from No. 2 to the top spot after the graduation of Fairleigh Dickinson Universitybound Jordan Jones. Flanagan’s 2-4 spots appear to comprise of senior transfer Cody Graves (Lincoln Academy), sophomore Matt Craig and freshman Darin Wood, each in no particular order.
“We’re hoping we can come out with four to five kids shooting below 45, giving us a good balance and chance to win in our league,” said Flanagan. “They are on track, but we have work to do, including the short aspect of the game, which is tough to practice.”
Those expected to battle for a starting spot on Flanagan’s squad are senior Dave Hardman, junior lefty Cass Carr and newcomers Austin Haskell, sophomores Tom Anderson and Dylan McMahon, and freshman Chase Reed.
“My goal is to have these guys shake off the tough holes and bounce back, not letting things slip away,” said Flanagan. “If we can do that, I look for good things this year.”
Cross country
Coach Warren Cossette has a small group once again, with plans on individual accomplishments this season.
“The goal is to try to improve every day, and see if our returnees can return or make the state meet for the first time,” said Cossette, whose six-member team opens at Winthrop on Sept. 5. “So far, the younger athletes have been working to build up their core. We use 12- week rotations as far as training goes, and we are still in the early stages.
Cossette returns junior Heidi Pinkham, who has qualified for the Class C state meet each of the past two years. Seniors Kyle Shute and Alyssa Urquhart are joined by newcomers Andrew Walton (sophomore), Amanda Marcus (freshman) and Gabby Wenners (freshman).
“These are good kids who work hard,” said Cossette. “They are talented, but just don’t know it yet.”
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