SOUTH CHINA — It’s early yet, but the results thus far for the Maranacook girls soccer team have been nearly perfect.
The Black Bears (2-0-0) used a hat trick from senior Addie Watson and five different goal scorers in an 8-0 romp over Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference foe Erskine Academy on Tuesday afternoon. The defending Class C state champions have yet to concede a goal this season.
“We have a whole bunch of new starters this year,” said Watson, who nodded home a Natalie Mohlar corner kick in the 73rd minute for her third strike of the game. “We thought it would be really different going into the season, but we’ve meshed so well. I think that’s why our games have turned out the way they have.”
The Black Bears kicked off the season with a 4-0 blanking of Leavitt on Saturday.
After leading Erskine 3-0 at halftime, including two goals inside the opening 13 minutes, Maranacook put it out of reach with Lily Caban’s goal in the 65th minute to make it 5-nil. Caban ran more than 60 yards from her own half with the ball at her feet before smashing home the goal.
It was indicative of how well the Black Bear midfield controlled the game from the outset. With Caban, Alissa Michaud, Gracie Farrell and Molly Woodward anchoring the center of the park, Erskine (0-2-0) never really got a foothold in the contest.
Erskine’s Gabby Sasse (21) battles for the header with Maranacook’s Alissa Michaud during a Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference girls soccer game Tuesday in South China. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel
“Every position has a big role to play, starting from defense on out,” Caban said. “Each individual player has to bring something.”
The Eagles generated just three shots across the 80 minutes — all of them over the final 23 minutes — with only one of them on target.
“I want to see how many miles (Lily) ran,” Maranacook coach Travis Magnusson said. “She was all over the place. Our halfbacks were incredible today, and in all the games I’ve seen Lily play, I think that was the best game she’s ever played.”
Freshman Phoebe Bell had a pair of goals in the victory, with Mohlar and Hope Webb adding goals of their own. Mohlar, who scored off her own corner kick to open the scoring in the 8th minute, finished with three assists.
The junior also smashed a bid off the crossbar from inside 15 yards in the 16th minute.
“We’ve had a lot of good come from our defensive midfielders to set the goals up for us,” Watson said.
Erskine Academy goalie Sophia Pilotte makes a save against Maranacook during a Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference girls soccer game Tuesday in South China. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel
“We’ve got multiple players who can score,” Magnusson added. “I couldn’t tell you who our leading scorer is going to be. I think we’re going to have three or four people who are all going to be in one clump. I think that’s going to be hard for teams to defend.”
The proof was evident Tuesday.
Maranacook had 27 shot attempts and 17 on-target chances. Indicative of the one-sided nature of play, the visitors enjoyed five corner kicks to Erskine’s zero.
“The seniors led, and they stood out,” Magnusson said. “When they play like that, everyone can follow their lead. I’m happy with how much ground everybody covered. We weren’t sitting and watching today.”
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
