READFIELD — Top-ranked Maranacook scored three goals to pull away from fourth-seeded Waynflete and return to the Western Class C boys’ soccer final Friday night with a 4-1 victory.

Maranacook (16-0) will host third-seeded Hall-Dale for the regional title at 6 p.m. Wednesday, the back end of a doubleheader in which the girls’ team will also host its regional final against Sacopee Valley at 3.

“Our school is pumped up right now, really excited,” Maranacook striker Kodey Solmitz said. “The girls are really excited to be there and we just wanted to be there again. That’s what our goal was.”

After a 1-1 halftime tie, the Black Bears took control early in the second half.

Mark Buzzell passed to Matt DuBois cutting across the box. Waynflete keeper Milo Belleau slipped and fell just before DuBois got a touch on the ball, leaving DuBois with an open net to his left. The goal the Black Bears in front for good 1:16 into the second half.

Waynflete (12-2-2) immediately went on the attack, but Justin Freeman made a couple big stops. The best came when Willy Burdick sent a long pass 30 yards to the box, where Christian Brooks was waiting with a header. Freeman anticipated perfectly and knocked it down.

Advertisement

“He was taller than the man he was on, so I knew he was going to win it if it came to him,” Freeman said. “When it came, I was just right there.”

“For a kid that doesn’t get tested much, he showed up,” Maranacook Coach Don Beckwith said of Freeman. “I think people think that he’s not very good. They’re very stupid if they think that.”

Waynflete’s next header did go in, but it went into the wrong net. Solmitz was credited with the goal at 11:51.

DuBois added his second goal with 14:31 left.

“I loved how we responded in the first half and tied it after coming out a little slow,” Waynflete Coach Brandon Salway said. “We had chances after their second goal to get right back in it. I loved how we responded there. Then we were just a little bit unlucky. They’re very good. We don’t see their style a lot and they’re very good at it.”

Randy Whitehouse can be contacted at 621-5638 or

rwhitehouse@mainetoday.com

Twitter: @RAWmaterial33


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.