TOPSHAM

Travel is a big part of an athlete’s life, especially in the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference, with teams residing as far north as Bangor and Hampden, to Topsham and Brunswick in the south.

Schedules often require two-plus hour bus rides (each way) and a lot of time to study or catch up on some sleep.

Coaches whose teams struggle on the road after a long trip typically remark that their squad had “trouble getting off the bus.”

Saturday afternoon’s key KVAC girls high school contest between No. 2 Hampden Academy and No. 3 Mt. Ararat was contested with the knowledge that the winner may not be forced to travel long distance twice in the Eastern Maine Class A postseason, meaning one less, fourhour round-trip excursion.

Mt. Ararat’s 2-0 victory over the Broncos, who came in just one-half point ahead of the Eagles in the Heal Point Standings, most likely saves the Eagles a trip to both Hampden and Bangor come the Eastern A semifinals and championship. That is unless Mt. Ararat stumbles in its final regularseason contest, Tuesday at Brunswick, while the Broncos play host to No. 1 Bangor Tuesday night.

A Hampden and/or Mt. Ararat win on Tuesday may juggle the teams up some more, with the No. 1 seed able to host throughout the regional playoffs, a definite advantage.

“This was huge. We knew it was going to be a tough game, with Hampden a tough team,” said Mt. Ararat coach Sam Chard after his Eagles improved to 12-1, the lone loss a 2-1 setback at Bangor Sept. 27. “There are not a whole lot of points separating the top three teams, so this was a big game, and playing on our field was even better. The whole offense clicked today, getting the balls out to the wings and getting them on their heels.”

“The long bus ride sometimes zones us out of the game we are about to play, so it is good to not have to travel that far in the playoffs,” said Mt. Ararat striker Torri Pelletier, who scored the game’s first goal 3:24 into the second half and was later taken down in the penalty area, resulting in a penalty kick goal by teammate Libby Ouellette with 22:44 remaining.

“We finally got our offense together. We have been preparing our offense every single day, and our crosses are starting to click now. It’s amazing to see how well we can work together, with so many good skills.”

“We came down early today, hoping it would get them loosened up, and they seemed loose, but just didn’t have the desire today,” said Hampden Academy coach Warren Shearer after his Broncos dropped to 9-2-2. “We just didn’t want it, and it was the worst game that we have played all season. They were winning the 50/50 balls and were the first to the ball. They wanted it more than us today.”

Hampden was hurt by the loss of sweeper Kristi Reichel to a first-half injury, and the Eagles took full advantage, outshooting the Broncos 15-3, including a 10- 1 edge in the second half.

Eagles start fast

Mt. Ararat pushed the Broncos throughout the first 15 minutes, getting three quick shots on Hampden goaltender Sam Bowler (nine saves).

“They have a lot of speed, and came out right at the beginning and passed right around us. They just seemed to really want it,” said Hampden midfielder Brianna Cota.

Hampden managed a pair of shots on Eagles netminder Kate Guerin, and most of the opening frame was played near midfield, with neither team earning a solid scoring opportunity as the game went to the half.

The second half was a different story for the home team. Bowler made a nice save on Erin Tome seconds into the half, but wasn’t as fortunate moments later as Pelletier dribbled around three Hampden defenders and fired a shot on goal. Bowler guessed right on where the shot was heading, but the ball slipped through her hands and into the net for a 1-0 Mt. Ararat lead.

The Eagles kept coming as the field remained tilted in the home team’s favor, with Bowler robbing Ouellette from in close and Nikki Bradstreet on a high chip that the netminder tipped inches over the cross bar.

Pelletier again caused problems for the Broncos defense, stepping between two defenders before taking a tumble inside the penalty area, resulting in a penalty kick. Ouellette quickly cashed it in and the Eagles had a 2-0 lead.

From there, Mt. Ararat played solid defense, led by Katelyn Cox, Lauren Labbay, Priscilla Whitney, Anna Manuel and Natalie Burch.

“We have some good leaders on this field, a lot of players who have played a lot of soccer growing up, and it is making a difference right now,” said Chard, whose squad held a 5-1 edge in corner kicks. “We probably could have scored even more today, but this was a good effort and a good win.”

Mt. Ararat 2,
Hampden 0

At Topsham
Hampden — 0 0 — 0
Mt. Ararat — 0 2 — 2
Goals — (MA) Torri Pelletier, Libby
Ouellette (penalty kick).
Shots — Mt. Ararat 15, Hampden
3.
Saves — (H) Sam Bowler 9; (MA)
Kate Guerin 2.
Corner kicks — Mt. Ararat 5, Hampden 1.
Records — Mt. Ararat 12-1, Hampden 9-2-2.
Up next for Mt. Ararat — Tuesday
at Brunswick, 3:30 p.m.
Up next for Hampden — Tuesday
at home against Bangor, 6 p.m.