Ellsworth spoils Ponies’ first home playoff contest

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Foxcroft Academy girls soccer team made program history by playing at home in the postseason for the very first time on the afternoon of Friday, Oct. 25. Visiting Ellsworth High School, the ninth seed in the Class B North tournament, spoiled the day for the No. 8 Ponies by scoring twice in the first half to win 3-0.

Eagle sophomore Addi Laslie scored what would turn out to be the game-winner with 15:21 to play in the first half as her shot from outside the box went into the lower right corner of the Foxcroft net. Junior Samantha Carter assisted on the play.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
UP OFF THEIR FEET — Foxcroft senior Olivia Wesley and Ellsworth sophomore Paige Sawyer, with Eagle junior keeper Kayla Duhaime looking on, fight for a header during an Oct. 25 Class B North prelim — the first at home in program history for the Ponies. No. 9 Ellsworth defeated the eighth-seeded Ponies 3-0.

A little more than seven minutes later Ellsworth junior Sierra Andrews scored unassisted to put the team ahead 2-0 when she snuck the ball inside the right post. The Eagles had an insurance goal nearly eight minutes into the second half from sophomore Paige Sawyer.

Foxcroft freshman keeper Olivia Hill and her counterpart across the field Eagle junior Kayla Duhaine both stopped 16 shots.

The Ponies end the season at 5-9-1, the team lost vs. Ellsworth in the regular season 7-1 on Sept. 26 which started a 2-6 skid. Foxcroft was playing in the Class B North postseason for the third year in a row, having the program’s first home game after being on the road in 2017 and 2018 at Waterville and Presque Isle respectively.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
HOME FIELD — Sophomore Kamryn Commeau gets to the ball ahead of Ellsworth juniors Lililan Frank (2) and Sara Shea during the first home girls soccer playoff contest for Foxcroft Academy in school history.

Ellsworth earned its first playoff victory since 2012 and ended an 0-4-1 streak to conclude the regular season. The now 6-8-1 Eagles advanced to a quarterfinal at No. 1 Hermon High School (14-0) on Tuesday, Oct. 29. Ellsworth was swept by Hermon regular season play at 1-0 and 5-1.

The game was the last for four Foxcroft seniors: Sadie Avellar, Cadence Gill, Madison Neale and Olivia Wesley.

GIRLS SOCCER
Class B North
prelim
No. 9 Ellsworth 3,
No. 8 Foxcroft 0
ELL 2 1 | 3
FOX 0 0 | 0
First: E — Laslie (Carter)
E — Andrews
Second: E — Sawyer
Saves: E — Duhaine 16,
F — O. Hill 16
Corner kicks: E — 4,
F — 8
Records: E — 6-8-1,
F — 5-9-1

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
WIND UP — Pony freshman Leah Hill boots the ball down the field as Ellsworth junior Samantha Carter watches.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
CLASS B NORTH PRELIM — Freshman Jade Laplante gets the ball away from Ellsworth junior Sara Shea on Oct. 25 in Dover-Foxcroft.