Maine news, sports, weather | Kennebec Journal, Augusta, Maine

September 19, 2012

HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER NOTEBOOK: Stars help, but are not a necessity

By Gary Hawkins ghawkins@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

Do you want a prolific goal scorer on your soccer team? It depends whom you ask.

Winthrop boys coach Dave Valle said his team is playing well because everyone is working together.

"Everybody's pushing everybody else and everybody's supporting everybody else," he said. "No one kid's a star."

It's tough to quibble. The Ramblers, who were 2-3-1 going into Tuesday's game at Spruce Mountain, have already equaled their win total of the past two seasons.

Maranacook girls coach Mike Morin is of the same mindset. His Black Bears are young, and like Winthrop, have spread the scoring around.

"It's really been a team effort," Morin said. "There's no one person you can focus on."

Hall-Dale girls coach Guy Cousins watched Carylanne Wolfington become one of the deadliest goal scorers in school history the past three years, but now that she's graduated the dynamic on the field has changed.

"We've had a number of players who came through the system and dominated," Cousins said. "(When you don't), it really requires everybody to take a look at their role. It shares the responsibility differently. When you have someone who's dominant it allows some players to sit back and watch."

Of course, it doesn't hurt to have someone willing and able to score a big goal when needed. Gardiner's Ally Day has carried most of the scoring load for the Tigers this season and they've played very well. The attention she's drawn has opened up opportunities for her teammates. Monmouth's Kylie Kemp has accounted for nearly all the goals for the Mustangs, one of the surprise teams in the Mountain Valley Conference this season. Saturday, she scored the game-winner with seven seconds left in double overtime in a 1-0 win over Mt. Abram.

So which is it?

Team play is paramount in team sports but there's nothing wrong with a home run hitter or a goal scorer. If you have a horse, you're happy to ride it. If not, you must share the load.

• • •

Valle likes what he's seen from his Winthrop team so far. The Ramblers have already faced the two dominant teams in the Mountain Valley Conference in St. Dominic and Hall-Dale (both losses), but have a number of winnable games in front of them.

Valle's goal at the start of the season was to pay at least .500 soccer and reach the playoffs and he hasn't backed off.

"We've got eight games left," he said. "My goal is to win five of them. That's not an unreachable goal."

• • •

The Hall-Dale girls are 3-2-1 following Monday's win against Winthrop. The Bulldogs are also coming off a tie at Dirigo on Friday. They're doing it with one of their youngest teams ever, a squad that includes 13 freshmen.

"We're a possession oriented team," Cousins said. "It's just a matter of learning and developing a style."

Cousins is playing 20 players a game depending on opponents, but hasn't forsaken this season for the future. The Bulldogs are in fifth place in the Western Maine class C tournament standings going into today's home makeup game against Mt. Abram.

"It will be a great contest for us, win or lose," Cousins said. "We've got some great opportunities in front of us, and some great competition."

Junior Maura Stottler has emerged as a goal scorer and has nine this season.

"She's been playing the system for a while," Cousins said. "She and a number of girls have the ability to put the ball in the net."

• • •

The Maranacook girls are another young team that's played well so far. The Black Bears were 3-0-1 heading into Tuesday's home game against Medomak Valley.

(Continued on page 2)

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