TOPSHAM

Like summer hasn’t wanted to end, neither the Mt. Blue or Mt. Ararat high school boys soccer teams wanted to see the season come to a close.

No. 5 Mt. Blue received a pair of goals from Sam Smith, including the game-winner 7:28 into the second overtime to down No. 4 Mt. Ararat for a 2-1 quarterfinal win.

The Cougars (9-4-2) will face No. 1 Bangor on Saturday in the Class A North semifinals.

“We knew Mt. Ararat was going to come out tough against us,” said Mt. Blue coach Joel Smith. “Jack (Rioux) does a great job with his program.”

Mt. Ararat outshot the Cougars, 29-10, but it was the visitors who made them count when needed.

“We didn’t change anything from the last time we played, we wanted to be aggressive,” said Mt. Ararat coach Jack Rioux. “We knew they were going to come at us with No. 4 (Sam Smith). We worked hard on marking him up, but we missed a couple of marks.”

Mt. Blue took down the Eagles, 3-1, a few weeks ago, so each team knew what to expect of each other. Mt. Ararat came out aggressive and looked to put pressure on the Mt. Blue defense with quick touches.

Dom Giampierto, Zach Gunther and Jared Fontaine denied the speedy Mt. Ararat midfielders any real scoring opportunities early on.

Each team had a lot of back and forth between the boxes over the first 20 minutes. Deep in Mt. Blue territory, Mt. Ararat’s Dalton Streeter took a throw-in for the Eagles. His high arcing throw almost beat Cougar goalie Hunter Bolduc, but the senior was able to get a hand on the ball. He was unable to secure it, and with it rolling away from him and off the near post. Giampierto made the clear, keeping the game scoreless.

The Mt. Ararat senior nearly threw another ball in 10 minutes later, but was again stopped by Bolduc with a magnificent save.

Smith broke the scoreless deadlock with 7:32 left in the half, after a direct kick by Mick Gurney bounced off Mt. Ararat defenders and eventually Smith for the tally.

“There was a little scrum in front of the box,” said Sam Smith. “The ball got loose and I was able to get a foot on it. It may have hit a defender, but it went in.”

Max Spelke almost tied the score with 22 seconds left in the half, but Bolduc came up with one of his seven first-half saves. Despite trailing 10-5 in shots, the Cougars led 1-0 at halftime.

“We were within a one-goal game at the half,” said Rioux. “The kids were confident they could control the ball.”

Eagles tie it

Mt. Ararat took control of the play to start the second frame. While continuing to keep the ball in the Mt. Blue zone, the Eagles suffocated the Mt. Blue offense, not allowing a shot over the first 10 minutes of the half.

Streeter, making one of his many throw-ins for the home team, chucked a ball deep towards the Mt. Blue net. Picking up the bouncing ball, freshman Sebastian Scherry found the back of the net for the equalizer with 29:24 left in regulation.

“It was an important goal right there,” said Rioux. “We had the momentum.”

Mt. Ararat kept the pressure on, but Giampierto continued keeping the Eagle offense at bay, clearing anything that came close to the goal.

“He’s been a pillar back there,” said Smith of his junior defenseman. “He’s a stalwart on our defense back there.”

Sam Smith nearly put the Cougars ahead when keeper Gavin Patterson came out to grab a loose ball. Smith and Patterson arrived at the same time and the ball came loose, rolling back towards the net. A dive backwards by the keeper allowed him to grab the ball to keep the game deadlocked.

Mt. Ararat kept the foot on the gas, firing nine shots, including six on net in the final 15 minutes, but came up empty. Mt. Blue managed two shots in the second half, but Bolduc’s nine second-half saves carried the game into overtime.

Each team had a chance to score in the first overtime, but both Bolduc and Patterson came up with game-saving saves forcing a second OT. After a Bolduc save, Patterson made one of his own on the other end.

Midway through the second extra frame, Smith picked up a loose ball and legged it over the outstretched hands of Patterson for the winning score.

“He battles. He has an intense drive on and off the field,” said Joel Smith on his son Sam. “He pushes himself, he pushes his teammates, he just always want to get better.”

“Throughout the game I missed out on a couple of opportunities, so I was glad to make that one happen,” added Sam Smith.

Mt. Ararat ended its season at 7-5-3.

“I wish we could have won one for the seniors,” said Spelke. “I look forward to coming back with this group next year.”

While it was a tough pill to swallow after the game, Rioux was proud of his team.

“These kids haven’t quit all year. It’s tough that it has to end this way. Give credit to Coach Smith and what he does with what he has.”

Mt. Blue 2, Mt. Ararat 1, 2 OT

Class A North Boys Soccer Quarterfinal At Topsham

Mt.	Blue		—	1	0	0	1	—	2
Mt.		Ararat		— 0	1	0	0	—	1

Goals — (MtB) Sam Smith 2, (MtA)
Sebastian Scherry.
Assist — (MtB) Mick Gurney.
Shots — Mt. Ararat 29, Mt. Blue 10.
Saves — (MtB) Hunter Bolduc 20,
(MtA) Gavin Patterson 5.
Corners — Mt. Ararat 7, Mt. Blue 4.
Records — Mt. Blue 9-4-2, Mt.
Ararat 7-5-3
Note — The Eagles season has concluded.