Richmond’s Emma Carbone, left, traps the ball in front of NYA’s Jasmine Huntsman during the first half of Wednesday’s Class D South final. NYA edged the Bobcats, 1-0 to advance to the state final game on Saturday. (Eric Maxim / The Times Record)
Richmond – The top-seeded Richmond Bobcats girls soccer team won’t repeat as champions of Class D. The Bobcats found themselves in unfamiliar territory, falling 1-0 to the North Yarmouth Academy Panthers in Wednesday’s Class D South final.
The Panthers victory breaks a streak of eight consecutive regional titles for the Bobcats. NYA managed a tie at home and late-season overtime victory against Richmond in the regular season. The Panthers carried that momentum into the regional final.
“We’re lucky this year we’ve done well against them,” said Panthers coach Ricky Doyon. “That’s obviously a very good team. They’ve been to the states eight years in a row and won it five times, so they have a great program and the coaches do a great job with the girls.”
Richmond’s Marie Wockenfuss (3) puts a shot on goal as North Yarmouth Academy’s Jacquelyn Ellswoth (21) and Richmond’s Caitlin Kendrick (14) look on. NYA defeated the Bobcats, 1-0, to advance to the State Class D title game on Saturday. (Eric Maxim / The Times Record)
Despite falling short, Richmond coach Troy Kendrick was proud his team for once again finishing as the top regular season team in the South.
“I was pleased with what we were able to accomplish,” said Kendrick. “We graduated some really nice players last year and we had some younger kids step into the holes. It’s a great group of kids to work with. I’ve had an enjoyable year.”
Chances were limited in the regional final’s opening half. With possession almost even and few attacking opportunities, the Panthers generated offense through the game’s first two corner kicks. Bobcat defenders were able to withstand the crosses and clear the ball before a scoring opportunity. Defenders Emma Carbone and Marybeth Sloat each made important clears keep the game scoreless.
Richmond’s first scoring chance of the half came when Caitlin Kendrick found some space about 25-yards from the goal and tested NYA goalkeeper Carly Downey with hard, low shot. Downey was able to make the save, her first of two important saves in the half.
The Bobcats best scoring opportunity came with minutes remaining in the half. Lindsie Irish sent a long pass behind the Panther defense for Marie Wockenfuss, but Downey met Wockenfuss at the ball and turned away her shot.
“I told the girls I thought we played well enough to win honestly,” said coach Kendrick. “We have a tough time putting the ball in the net, but we really didn’t give them a lot of good looks.”
After a scoreless first half, the Panthers pressed for a goal early in the second. NYA controlled possession in the opening minutes, and those efforts would pay off 15 minutes in. Maggie Holt’s pass found its way through the Bobcat defense into the 18-yard box, with Serena Mower finishing off the play for a goal.
Richmond’s Paige Lebel (20) dribbles past NYA’s Helen Hamblett during Wednesday’s Class D South Final. NYA defeated the Bobcats, 1-0. (Eric Maxim / The Times Record)
“After we went through the first half I knew it was going to be a one goal game,” said Doyon. “I was just hoping it would be us. We’re typically a second half team.”
The Bobcats responded, pushing further up-field to press the Panther defense. Wockenfuss put a just across the goal mouth just minutes later. Richmond’s best opportunity came with just eight minutes remaining. A loose ball rolled out to Kendrick, who ripped a shot off the crossbar from about 20-yards out. The Bobcats struggled to find another scoring opportunity in the waning minutes.
“They got that one break we couldn’t get that ball cleared and they knocked it in the back of the net,” said the Richmond coach. “I thought we had some chances but it came back to bite us a bit.”
The win was the Panthers second at Richmond this season. NYA will play for the state title Saturday at McMann Field in Bath. As the Bobcats will be absent for the first time in eight years, their coach reflected on the run of success.
Richmond’s Paige Lebel (20) and NYA’s Serena Mower collide as Richmond’s Rylie Irish (5) looks on during the first half in Wednesday’s Class D South regional final. The Panthers edged the Bobcats, 1-0, to advance to Saturday’s state title game in Bath. (Eric Maxim / The Times Record)
“Obviously, I think it helps having the continuity. I live in the community, I coach and teach in the community,” said coach Kendrick. “I get to work with theses kids and we’ve just been blessed with a lot of talented athletes. That’s my favorite part of each season when you graduate some kids, who’s going to step up?”
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