Penobscot Valley holds off Patriots for 2-1 victory
MILO — When Penquis Valley High School and Penobscot Valley High School met nearly a month prior in Howland on Sept. 14 the two girls soccer squads combined for 10 goals as the host Howlers won 6-4. In the rematch on Oct. 12 at Harris Field the teams only had three goals between the two but Penobscot Valley scored early in both halves and then held on for a 2-1 victory.
Penobscot Valley — the Howlers won for the ninth time in 10 games, finished its regular season at 12-2 and remained atop the Class D North Heal Point standings after the victory at Class C North Penquis Valley — scored off a corner kick from the left by junior Judith King just over three minutes into the game. At the 37:39-mark of the second half sophomore Alexis Ireland, on assist by junior Lauren Reed, made the game 2-0 on a shot from the left of the Patriot goal.
After about 13 and a half minutes of play in the second half, the Patriots were awarded a free kick from outside the box. The ball was placed in line with the right side of the goal by junior Camryn Rolfe as she stepped back and ran at it. Instead of kicking the ball Rolfe kept her cleat from making contact.
The deliberate miss gave the shot opportunity to senior Kelsey Robinson. With the timing of the Howler defense momentarily thrown off Robinson booted the ball at the goal and it landed into the netting as Penquis Valley was on the scoreboard with the game now 2-1 at the 26:18-mark.
The Patriots would have a significant advantage in corner kicks in the second half at 10-1 (and 13-4 overall), including five in a row during one stretch early on but Penobscot Valley senior keeper Paige Thibodeau and the defense in front of her only allowed the one goal. Thibodeau would finish with 13 saves.
Across the field junior Katelyn Bostridge stopped 14 shots for Penquis.
With the loss, the Patriots’ record fell to 7-6. The team stood in fifth place in the Class C North Heal Point standings after the game with one more contest left (hosting 11th-ranked Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln on Monday, Oct. 16). As the fifth place team, Penquis Valley would avoid the preliminary round of the tournament and would be
at the No. 4 team for a quarterfinal matchup.
Heading into the final days of the regular season Orono High School (10-3) stood in fourth place. The Patriots and Orono did not play in the regular season.
GIRLS SOCCER
Penobscot 2,
Penquis 1
PENB 1 1 | 2
PENQ 0 1 | 1
First: Penb. — King
Second: Penb. — Ireland
(Reed)
Penq — Robinson
Corner kicks: Penb. 4;
Penq. 13
Saves: Penb. Thibodeau 13;
Penq. K. Bolstridge 14
Records: Penb. 12-2;
Penq. 7-6
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
IN OR OUT? — Penquis Valley junior Cymeria Robshaw — with classmate Camryn Rolfe (6) looking on — and Penobscot Valley junior Brianna Moon (23) and freshman Emma Buck (1) fight for position on a header near the Howler goal during the Oct. 12 contest in Milo. Penobscot Valley won the game 2-1.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
KICK SPECIALIST — Senior Kelsey Robinson sends a corner kick into play during the second half. Robinson would score the Penquis Valley goal on a free kick.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
EYEING THE FIELD — Penquis Valley junior Camryn Rolfe gets the ball down the pitch while being pursued by Penobscot Valley junior Judith King. King would put her team on the scoreboard early in the opening half.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
FIGHTING FOR THE BALL — Patriot sophomore Macee Grant and Penobscot Valley freshman Kara Theriault get acquainted.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
THE BUCK STOPS THERE — Penquis Valley freshman Brianna Sanborn (2) and junior Cymeria Robshaw (8) stop the progress of Penobscot Valley freshman Emma Buck near midfield on Oct. 12.