Martyn Keen

Marcia Wood

BOYS’ TEAM

MARTYN KEEN–NORTH YARMOUTH ACADEMY SOCCER

Keen has seen and done a little of everything in his eventful life, but until Nov. 3, a Gold Ball eluded him. Keen, a well-known coach, who has overcome some enormous personal challenges, led NYA’s boys’ soccer team to the Class D state title that afternoon, capping a tremendous season.

For his coaching acumen and adding another inspirational chapter to his story, Martyn Keen gets The Forecaster’s nod as our Northern edition Fall Coach of the Year, of a boys’ team.

Keen, a native of Wales, has long been involved with soccer as a player and coach. Keen had a 10-year stint coaching the Deering boys and took over the NYA boys’ squad in 2009. Keen led the Panthers to the regional final or state final in each of his first three seasons, but real life soon intervened and he had to be treated for esophageal cancer. After getting a clean bill of health, Keen returned to the sidelines in 2017, but NYA fell short of the playoffs.

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The Panthers returned to form this fall, going 12-2 in the regular season, winning the regional title on penalty kicks, then downing Penobscot Valley to capture the Gold Ball for the first time since 2005.

“It was devastating not to even make playoffs last season and we were determined there would be no repeat of that, but as for winning a state title, that was a bit of a stretch,” Keen said. “Winning erased years of frustration and disappointment for me at least in the context of high school soccer. I’ve been through a great deal in my personal life after a couple of life threatening (health-related) sagas, but all the struggles were worth persevering through when I eventually got to hold, hug and kiss a Gold Ball.”

“Martyn has been incredible,” said NYA senior Xander Kostelnik. “He’s one of the best coaches I’ve ever had. He knows everything about soccer and the teams we play.”

Keen is also a goalkeepers coach for the Seacoast United Maine premier team and an ambassador for the sport throughout the state and region.

Martyn Keen, our Northern edition boys’ team Fall Coach of the Year, has long been a winner. This autumn, he got the well-deserved, coveted piece of hardware to make everything complete.

Prior winners:

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2017 Mike Hagerty (Yarmouth soccer)

2016 Paul St. Pierre (Freeport football)

2015 David Higgins (Greely football)

2014 Brian Berkemeyer (Freeport cross country)

2013 Mike Andreasen (Greely soccer)

2012 Dave Halligan (Falmouth soccer)

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2011 Spike Herrick (Falmouth golf)

2010 David Higgins (Greely football)

2009 Jim Hartman (Yarmouth football)

2008 Mike Hagerty (Yarmouth soccer)

2007 Mike Andreasen (Greely soccer)

2006 Dave Halligan (Falmouth soccer)

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2005 Joe Heathco (Freeport soccer)

2004 Mike Hagerty (Yarmouth soccer)

2003 Dave Halligan (Falmouth soccer)

2002 Bob Gilman (Falmouth cross country)

2001 Mark Luthe (Falmouth golf)

GIRLS’ TEAM

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MARCIA WOOD-FREEPORT FIELD HOCKEY

There might not have been a more exciting squad to watch or a better story to follow this fall than the Freeport field hockey team.

The Falcons produced their best season in nearly two decades and got within a goal of playing for the state championship and while the team boasted an abundance of talented players, the person putting everything together was the coach, Marcia Wood.

For completing her quest to make Freeport one of the state’s elite programs and for getting the best out of her charges, Marcia Wood is The Forecaster’s selection for our Northern edition Fall Coach of the Year, of a girls’ team.

Wood played field hockey and lacrosse at Sanford High School and Plymouth State University, then had a highly successful run as a girls’ lacrosse coach at Scarborough High School, winning four Class A state titles. Wood came to Freeport to coach field hockey in 2013 and led the Falcons to the playoffs in each of her first five seasons, but this year was something else entirely.

Freeport lit up the opposition, going 11-2-1, its best record since 2000, then edged Poland and Fryeburg Academy in thrilling one-goal contests to reach the regional final. There, the Falcons dropped a one-goal decision to York, but it was an unforgettable ride.

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“I’m happy we made it so far,” Wood said. “It was so exciting. We get to hang a banner in our gym.”

“Coach is amazing,” said Freeport senior standout Alexa Koenig. “She’s a good communicator. She was very supportive whether we won or lost. She was always the same. Her support never wavered. She taught us so much.”

The Falcons may have fallen just short this year, but with Marcia Wood, our Northern edition girls’ team Fall Coach of the Year, at the helm, it’s only a matter of time until Freeport finishes the job.

Prior winners:

2017 Chris Coleman (Yarmouth soccer)

2016 Nora Krainis (NYA volleyball)

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2015 Bob Morse (Yarmouth cross country)

2014 Tracy Quimby (NYA field hockey)

2013 Gary Powers (Falmouth volleyball)

2012 Kelvin Hasch (Greely volleyball)

2011 Jim Senecal (Yarmouth volleyball)

2010 Rich Smith (Yarmouth soccer)

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2009 Gary Powers (Falmouth volleyball)

2008 Julia Littlefield (NYA field hockey)

2007 Jeff Thoreck (NYA soccer)

2006 Kelvin Hasch (Greely volleyball)

2005 Cathy McGuire (Freeport cross country)

2004 Robin Haley (Falmouth field hockey)

2003 Robyn Thayer (Greely field hockey)

2002 Bob Morse (Yarmouth cross country)

2001 Melissa Anderson (Falmouth soccer)

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.


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