Pirate boys top Lee Academy at Homecoming
GUILFORD — For the second time in four days, the boys soccer teams from Piscataquis Community High School and Lee Academy faced off with the second match between the Class D North rivals being held on the Pirates’ field on the evening of Sept. 30 during the school’s 2023 Homecoming.
PCHS jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second half and held off the Pandas for a 4-2 victory. The Pirates also scored four goals in Lee, a 4-1 victory on Sept. 27, and the team improved to 4-4-1 after completing the season sweep. PCHS was also playing its third game in four days, having fallen vs. the Bangor Christian School 5-1 in-between the two games against Lee. The Pandas dropped to 3-6 with the squad’s fourth defeat in five matches.
With about 16 minutes to go in the opening half, PCHS was awarded a corner kick from the left. Caleb Littlefield put the ball in and his kick began to come back to the field by the right of the Lee goal. Before it could meet grass, Karson Tibbetts leaped and headed the ball at the Panda goal. His shot would initially hit the left post, but it took a Pirate roll and crossed the line for a 1-0 lead at the 15:34-mark.
GOAL IN EACH HALF — PCHS’ Scott Chadbourne leaps to get a hold of the ball during the 2023 Homecoming contest vs. Lee Academy on Sept. 30. Chadbourne had a goal in both halves to help PCHS earn a 4-2 victory.
With under seven minutes to go before the half, Scott Chadbourne directed a loose ball into the bottom left corner of the Panda goal for the 2-0 advantage.
Lee keeper Caden Pullen would make a game-high eight saves on 16 shots, including two in a row early in the second half. After making the stop Pullen could not keep possession of the ball and Chase Lander ran in and sent it in to put PCHS ahead 3-0 with 28:48 on the clock.
The Pandas would get on the scoreboard in the second half, but less than a minute later PCHS jumped to a 3-goal lead again.
PUTTING THEIR BEST FOOT FORWARD — Ben Higgins looks to corral the ball during the Sept. 30 Homecoming game against Lee Academy. PCHS won 4-2 to earn the team’s second win over the Pandas in four days.
Chadbourne and Pullen both raced to the ball as Chadbourne got to it first, and sent a shot past the Lee keeper and in for a 4-1 lead with 22:07 remaining behind his second score of the game. The Pandas had another goal but that would be it.
PCHS keeper Noah Kain finished the night with five saves on 17 shots.
Along with pregame players introductions, spectators were also informed that the boys were wearing custom pink uniforms and socks for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
QUICK CUT TO THE RIGHT — Gavyn Gilbert makes a move to get around the defender on Sept. 30.
Northern Light CA Dean and Mayo Hospitals have teamed up with several area school and other community partners to spread awareness and encourage mammograms in October
The PCHS field hockey and soccer teams will wear custom pink jerseys, Greenville Consolidated School soccer teams, and Foxcroft Academy field hockey, football, and soccer teams will wear pink socks for the month. Announcers will share breast cancer awareness messages at select games in October.
SEND THE BALL DOWN THE FIELD – Dominic Cookson gets ready to boot the ball down the field toward the Lee Academy goal during the Homecoming contest.
BOYS SOCCER
PCHS 4, Lee 2
LEE 0 2 – 2
PCH 2 2 – 4
First: P – Tibbetts (Littlefield); P – Chadbourne
Second: P – Lander; L – Vacha; P – Chadbourne; L – Knowles
Corner kicks: L – 4; P – 3
Saves: L — Pullen 8; P – Kain 5
Records: L – 3-6; P – 4-4-1