FA boys win prelim at Waterville

    WATERVILLE — Ninth-seeded Foxcroft Academy (9-5-1) played No. 8 Waterville High School (10-5) on Oct. 25, at Thomas College due to the rain the previous few days and the field not being in playing condition. Everything cleared up by Saturday and the teams played the game at 9 a.m. — the only time available because Thomas had its Homecoming games and festivities later in the day.

Contributed photo

ON TO THE QUARTERFINALS — Foxcroft Academy boys soccer captains, from left Matthew Baiamonte, Julian Zepeda, Antonio Ayala and Eli Olson, and their teammates defeated Waterville High School, 2-1, in a Class B East preliminary round game on Oct. 25 at Thomas College. The ninth-seeded Ponies were scheduled to play at No. 1 Ellsworth High School in a quarterfinal on Oct. 28.

    Foxcroft came out and quickly put the pressure on Waterville when the Ponies scored three minutes into the game. Antonio Ayala won the ball in the midfield, went by two defenders and quickly gave a through ball from left side of the field to a speedy Justin Diamond that one timed it pass the goalie to give the team a quick 1-0 lead.
    Waterville responded by scoring a minute later when Ethan Cayer crossed a deep and high ball past Foxcroft’s keeper from the right side of the field where Dalton Henderson put it in to the back of the net to equalize the game at 1-1. Both defenses settled in and were able to slow down the others team’s offenses.  With five minutes left to play in the first half Foxcroft scored again when Waterville’s goalie was not able hang on to the ball and Foxcroft crashed the net to score, but the goal was called back because the player was offside.
    In the second half both teams played equally and had a few good chances to score.  Fifteen minutes into the second half Foxcroft was awarded a penalty kick when Nick Boyd was taken down in the penalty box.  Dylan Harmon-Weeks took the penalty kick and was able to put it by the goalie to give the Ponies the lead for good for a 2-1 victory.
    “Dylan is our penalty kicker.,” head coach Luis Ayala said. “There were no second thoughts of who was going to take it. He is a kid that thrives under pressure. When he stepped up to the ball I just knew he was going to make it.  He is clutch!
    “I was very proud how we played specially after one of our goals was called back. That could of easily taken us of our game, but this is a mature team and they continued to play hard. We fought through that adversity and still won.”
    Ayala gave credit to his captains — Antonio Ayala, Matthew Baiamonte, Eli Olson and Julian Zepeda — that took control of their team when the goal was called back and kept the squad together. “The leadership this year has a been a big difference in our team,” coach Ayala said. “They kept the team positive and kept encouraging throughout the game and willed the team to victory.” 
    Foxcroft’s goalie Logan Butera had six saves on 10 shots and Waterville’s Liam Edwards had 12 saves on 20 shots.

Photo courtesy of Foxcroft Academy junior Matthew Kim

BIG KICK — Dylan Harmon-Weeks’ goal on a penalty kick would prove to be the game-winner as Foxcroft Academy defeated Waterville, 2-1, in a Class B East prelim at Thomas College in Waterville on Oct. 25.