As a junior, Adam LaBrie of Yarmouth was a good forward on a team that fell short of its goal.
This season, LaBrie was the Clippers’ best player. He more than doubled his goal production, and Yarmouth won its first Class B boys’ soccer championship since 2010.
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“Adam was the No. 1 reason why we won the title, but he never acted like it,” Coach Mike Hagerty said.
Based on his improvement and his team’s accomplishment, and emphasized by his three-goal game against Greely in the Western Maine final, LaBrie is the Maine Sunday Telegram Player of the Year.
The other player most highly considered for the honor was Deering’s standout midfielder, Stephen Ochan.
LaBrie, Ochan and Hampden Academy striker Tristan Granger were Maine’s three choices for the National Soccer Coaches Association of America all-region team.
LaBrie also had a hat trick in the regular-season finale at Falmouth. Hagerty said LaBrie is the first Yarmouth player in his 18 years coaching at the school to score three goals in a game against Falmouth or Greely.
As a junior, LaBrie had a solid season, scoring 11 goals, but Yarmouth suffered its first loss of the season in the regional final against Greely.
“From Day 1 of preseason this year we kind of had a chip on our shoulder and the seniors, especially, had that feeling we could get it done,” LaBrie said.
LaBrie was quick to credit teammates and coaches for his scoring spike. He noted that he worked well in a two-striker format, first with Henry Coolidge, and during the stretch run with junior Patrick Grant.
Assistant coach Eoin Lynch, a former standout at Yarmouth and Providence College, focused LaBrie’s training on one-on-one situations with the goalie.
“My teammates, they moved the ball around and all I had to do was finish it,” LaBrie said.
“When you get a good through ball, all the pressure’s on you, and I feel I handled the pressure better than I did last year. I didn’t overthink it.”
Hagerty said LaBrie also became a stronger player this season, which allowed him to fight through contact more consistently, thus creating more chances.
LaBrie plans to continue his soccer career at Thomas College.
“All I really wanted to do was to go to college, play soccer, have fun and be on a team,” said LaBrie, who is also a four-year varsity basketball player at Yarmouth.
“When I went up there (to Thomas), it just felt right.”
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