Ponies outshine the Pirates at night
By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer
DOVER-FOXCROFT —Neighboring rivals Class B Foxcroft Academy and Class C Piscataquis Community High School boys had the opportunity for “Thursday Night Lights” on Sept. 18 by playing on what is normally the Pony football field during the fall. The soccer pitch took up a larger area than the gridiron with the goal lines being located over halfway into both end zones and sidelines extending slightly wider on each side.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
THREE-ASSIST NIGHT — Julian Zepeda, who would pick up three assists in a 9-2 Foxcroft win, slides under Mitchel Noyes of PCHS. The two neighboring rivals played under the lights on what is normally the Pony football field during the evening of Sept. 18.
The Foxcroft players ended up being more ready for prime time with a 9-2 victory, improving to 4-0 on the season. The team would also defeat Hermon High School 4-1 on the ensuing Saturday morning for a fifth win in as many contests to start the 2014 season.
Ryan Cary got the scoring started 9:50 into the game as he received a pass from teammate Justin Diamond, dribbled in and then found the left corner of the Pirate goal.
With about 13 and a half minutes to go in the opening half, Julian Zepeda lightly tapped a free kick and Antonio Ayala followed with a big boot through a crowd for goal No. 2. Less than two minutes later Matthew Baiamonte scored, on an Ayala assist, to put the home team ahead 3-0.
The Pony offense, which entered with a 15-4 scoring advantage and concluded the evening with a goal differential of 24-6, was just getting started following halftime. Cary kicked in a loose ball in the early minutes for a 4-0 lead.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
NINE GOALS FOR SIX PLAYERS — Dribbling upfield away from Spencer Adkins of PCHS is Foxcroft Academy’s Dylan Harmon-Weeks. Harmon-Weeks scored Pony goal No. 8, and he was the fifth of six players to get the ball into the net.
The shutout came to an end at the 32:19-mark when PCHS’ Nick Fortier kicked the ball in following a throw-in by Tristan French. Fortier would score again later on a penalty kick for both of his team’s goals.
The scoreboard operator’s busy night would continue as Foxcroft added five more goals to its total. Baiamonte, Diamond, Cary, Dylan Harmon-Weeks and Nick Boyd accounted for the later five, with Cary scoring his third goal of the night. Zepeda would end up with a game-high three assists.
Foxcroft keeper Logan Butera earned the win with seven saves on nine shots. Pirates Will Willard and Cody White combined to stop 15 shots out of a total of 30. PCHS dropped to 2-2-1 on the season.
The Ponies and PCHS are scheduled to play again, this time in Guilford, on Thursday, Oct. 9 at 4 p.m.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
SHINING UNDER THE STARS — Justin Diamond, trailed by teammate Matthew Baiamonte, had a goal in the second half and Baiamonte had goals in both halves on Sept. 18.