It has been a while — 12 long, frustrating years — since the Easton girls soccer team has reached the Class D playoffs.
That goal seemed even less attainable last fall, when the Bears compiled only four wins.
But coach Rachel Tomlinson’s team kept believing and achieving this season, and Easton recently completed its regular season with an impressive 9-4-1 record that currently has it second in the Class D Heal point standings.
The top eight teams qualify for the playoffs in Eastern D, as there are 17 teams, and the Bears should have enough points compiled to get in once the regular season concludes for all schools Oct. 20.
Easton’s regular season is finished due to the upcoming potato harvest break, so the Bears won’t see any game action until the playoffs.
“It’s going to be tough coming back after harvest, having two weeks to maybe get back in shape,” Tomlinson said. “They’ve never been in this position, so I don’t really know how they’re going to come out of this.”
Easton, which has only 34 girls in the high school, has one senior on the 14-player squad in goalkeeper Taylor Burtt, who has been a vital cog in the Bears’ success.
“She went to camp this summer and came back a new player,” said Tomlinson, in her second year at the helm.
A couple of underclassmen have fueled the Bears’ offensively in freshman Carla Halvorson and sophomore Ariana Babindeau, with sophomore sweeper Sarah Plourde, junior fullback Sydney Trask and freshman sweeper-midfielder Kennedy Young headlining the defense.
But this has been a complete team effort, with all 14 players making strong contributions on both ends of the field.
“Without other players, [our top scorers] wouldn’t be able to score those goals,” said Tomlinson.
Easton’s season took an upward swing in its third game, when the Bears tied Washburn 0-0 and realized they could compete with some of the top teams.
“It was almost like a wake-up call [that they] could compete with a team that has always been in the tournament,” said Tomlimson.
So once that tournament starts next month, could the Bears pull off a miracle?
“It’s almost like a Cinderella story. Last year four wins, way at the bottom [of the standings], this year they’ve just turned it around,” said Tomlinson. “I think they’re almost in disbelief. They’re excited about the playoffs, but I don’t think they know what to expect.”
Ram tough
Sometimes, a team’s character certainly is exemplified not by the number of victories, but how it wins the game.
The Bangor girls soccer team has had a few one-goal victories so far in the young season, but none bigger than Wednesday’s 2-1 overtime victory over defending Class A state champion Waterville, which had its 21-game win streak snapped.
But the one thing that made the victory all the sweeter for coach Joe Johnson’s club, 5-0 after Thursday’s 5-0 victory over Skowhegan, was the win came in the Elm City.
“I just like the overall effort, it was just a well-played game all the way,” he said. “You get lucky when you go down there and beat Waterville.”
It was Bangor’s first victory at Waterville since 2006, when the current seniors were freshmen.
Freshman Grace MacLean continued her outstanding season, scoring both Bangor goals, including the winner with two minutes to play in overtime.
“She’s just doing dynamite, she can finish,” Johnson said. “She’s certainly showing some maturity beyond her years.”
One big reason for the Rams’ strong start has been the drive of the upperclassmen.
“Without a doubt, we’ve got great senior leadership. The seniors are driving us, they’re a close bunch,” Johnson said. “It’s the closest bunch I’ve seen in the 10 years I’ve been here.”
Even though beating the Panthers will certainly give the Rams a chunk of Heal points, and a surefire boost of confidence, the team’s focus shifted directly toward Skowhegan after beating Waterville.
“It gets the kids confident, but it doesn’t mean much until we’re playing in [a] championship game,” Johnson said.
But he certainly learned some more things about his team against Waterville.
“It says that they compete the whole game, just competing, playing hard and staying focused,” said Johnson.
As great as the Rams’ upperclassmen have been, young players such as MacLean and sophomore Ashley Robinson are making pivotal contributions.
“As good as they are, they’re good because the seniors are guiding us. The seniors are carrying us, without a doubt,” Johnson said.
One thing that should benefit the Rams over the second half of the season is that three of their next five matches are at home.
rmclaughlin@bangordailynews.net
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