Dexter survives PCHS in double overtime
GUILFORD — A mutual 2019 girls soccer opener between Dexter Regional High School and host Piscataquis Community High School on Sept. 6 went back and forth with the Dexter leading twice before PCHS tied play including 3-3 late in the second half to set up bonus play. After one extra session, Tiger junior Peyton Grant wasted little time in overtime No. 2 as she scored the game-winner at the 4:24-mark.
“We just kept pushing, we just knew someone could take a shot we needed if we crashed the keeper,” Grant said. She would be the one with the needed play as Grant directed a loose ball inside the left post a little more than 30 seconds into the second overtime to give the team the 4-3 victory.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
STARTING THE SEASON OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT — Dexter junior Peyton Grant makes a move to get around PCHS junior Meagan Lemieux during a mutual 2019 opener Sept. 6 in Guilford. Grant would score twice, including the game-winner in a 4-3 double overtime victory.
Grant had another opportunity to set her team up with about 1:50 to go in the first overtime as she sent a corner kick in from the left, Dexter had a 16-1 corner kick advantage. Tiger head coach Jody Grant — Peyton’s father — said she made a great play but PCHS freshman keeper Lauren Robinson came up with the loose ball and safely booted it away. Robinson ended with a game-high 18 saves on 30 shots.
“I thought we’re not going to score that way but luck flips to our way, the ball falls and she’s there to put it in,” the elder Grant said.
The goal was Grant’s second of the game. With nearly 18 minutes remaining in the second half she got a hold of a loose ball and kicked it in to give Dexter a 3-2 advantage. The play came after some other shots were close but not quite on the mark. “Everything I was kicking tonight was hitting every single post possible,” Grant said.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
MEETING SPOT — Dexter seniors Cloe Mountain (2) and Caitlyn Hardy (9) and PCHS freshman Brylee Ricker run to a ball along the sideline during the first game of the season for both teams. Looking on is Dexter junior Jade Wintle and sophomore keeper Jasmine Lewis.
“Our defense just kept taking over, one-touching the ball and our offense was running up to it and we were playing as 11, especially our keeper (sophomore Jasmine Lewis),” senior Cloe Mountain said about the Tigers regaining the momentum after losing the lead. “She wasn’t just sitting there, we really just work on that in practice and we executed it.”
In the first half Dexter built a 2-0 advantage on goals from freshman Jozlynn Paige and Mountain. Paige got an assist from classmate Jillean Poliquin.
“We’re very proud of them,” Mountain said about her youngest teammates, as three members of the Class of 2023 started for the Tigers.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
HARTFORD’S IN THE RIGHT PLACE — Pirate sophomore Hailee Hartford clears the ball away from Dexter junior Olivia Peaks on Sept. 6 in Guilford, in front of PCHS sophomore Grace Buehne and freshman keeper Lauren Robinson.
“The first goal we scored, Jozlynn, she’s young but you’re in the right place at the right time and the ball kind of finds you and next thing you know it’s in the net,” Jody Grant said. “So we’re going to have to get multiple contributions from multiple players, no question about it.”
He said plays will arise for players with the opposition focused on Grant and Mountain. “Some of those other kids are going to get opportunities to score just because, and they have to understand, right place at the right time.”
“We’re going to need (Peyton Grant) to be that person for us.” Jody Grant said she, Mountain and senior Caitlyn Hardy will need to “step up and help the younger kids. The more they can do for us, the better our chances are going to be.”
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
BACK OFF — PCHS freshman Kendall Kimball’s, pictured with Dexter junior Jade Wintle, goal would tie the game 3-3 with 2:46 left in regulation. The Pirates lost 4-3 in double overtime, in an interclass game as PCHS has switched to Class D South after being in Class C North with the Tigers.
PCHS scored twice in the first 10-plus minutes of the second half to tie the game 2-2. Freshman Abbey Ricker put the Pirates on the scoreboard with senior Caroline Goggin assisting and then Goggin tied the game with a goal of her own.
With less than three minutes to go in regulation, Goggin passed to freshman Kendall Kimball and Kimball took the ball down the left side of the field. She kicked the ball into the right side of the Dexter goal to tie play at 3-3 with 2:46 remaining.
“There were a couple of situations where we just didn’t do a great job in the middle of the field, unbalanced is the way to phrase it,” Jody Grant said. He said inexperience played a role in these situations, such as the third PCHS goal, and the coaching staff will be working on this moving forward.
“We’ve got some really young kids on the field, that whole side of the field that they scored a couple of goals on are all freshmen, front line, midfield, the defensive player on that wing are all freshmen,” he said. “So we’re going to have to do something to make sure we understand with a 1-goal lead with five minutes to go you’re thinking more defense than offense.”
The game was the first for the Pirates in Class D South after playing in what is now Class C North for decades.
“They have some very good young players, (head coach Joe Gallant has) been here a long time and has always done a good job with his program,” Grant said. “We always expect to come and it’s going to be a battle.”
“A very tough, hard fought double overtime 4-3 loss to Dexter tonight for my girls soccer team,” Gallant wrote in a post on the PCHS Pirate Sports Central Facebook page. “We went down 2-0 in the 1st half, roared back with 2 unanswered goals. Dexter scored the 3rd, we tied it to put it into overtime. Very proud of how the girls battled from start to finish. We only scored four goals all last season and already have 3 to open the season.”
The two teams are scheduled to play again in Dexter at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 2.
GIRLS SOCCER
Dexter 4,
PCHS 3 (2 OT)
DEX 2 1 0 1 | 4
PCHS 0 3 0 0 | 3
First: D — Paige (Poliquin)
D — Mountain
Second: P — A. Ricker
(Goggin)
P — Googin
D — Grant
P — Kimball (Goggin)
Second overtime: D — Grant
Corner kicks: D — 16,
P –1
Saves: D — Lewis 5,
P — Robinson 18
Records: D 1-0,
P 0-1