BANGOR, Maine — If there’s one thing observers of the Bangor girls soccer team have grown accustomed to this fall, it’s the Rams’ ability to strike at any time, with quickness and skill.
While five different players wearing maroon-and-white contributed a goal in Bangor’s 5-0 victory over Messalonskee of Oakland Tuesday night, it was the defense that shined the brightest for coach Joe Johnson’s club.
Bangor’s back line, speared by fullbacks Adrianna Capuano, Liz Hintz and sweeper Erin Boulier, helped hold the Eagles to six shots at goal and kept them from generating any high-percentage scoring opportunities on Rams’ goalkeeper Mia Smith.
“Everything clicked tonight,” said Capuano.
Bangor, which came into the match ranked atop the Class A Heal points, will likely keep that seeding in improving to 8-0 while fourth-ranked Messalonskee dips to 5-2-1.
While Bangor’s defense was keeping Messalonskee at bay, sophomore forward Ashley Robinson powered the Rams’ offensive attack, scoring 24:34 into the first half.
Megan Doucette started the sequence with a direct kick from the right side, and Robinson pounced on a loose ball and sent it home.
“It was a great corner, [Messalonskee goalie Sarah Jacques] hit it over to me so I took the opportunity,” said Robinson.
Bangor had no such trouble generating scoring opportunities, dominating the midfield and winning virtually every 50-50 ball.
However, in the first half, open shots sailed either just wide or over the cage while Jacques made some high-percentage saves for the Eagles.
“Sometimes, the ball just doesn’t go in,” said Johnson.
The ball did start finding the net for Bangor in the second half, as Eliza Estabrook controlled a goal kick at midfield, and found an unmarked Robinson. She sent a perfect through-ball to Kim Jordan, who subsequently broke down the middle unmarked on Jacques and sent the ball inside the right goalpost 1:33 into the second half.
Estabrook scored three minutes later with Jordan picking up the assist, while Shannon Broznya and Denali Graham added unassisted tallies later in the half.
“Our first touches were dynamite, which led to good passing,” said Johnson. “Without question that was one of the best games we’ve played all year.”
If there were any doubts that the Rams were possibly looking ahead to next Tuesday’s showdown with Waterville, they were erased quickly, as they came out charged up.
“We were pumped up for the game,” said Robinson.
The Rams’ back line did an effective job of one-touching the ball back to the midfield, especially when the Eagles would attempt crosses.
Smith finished with four saves on six shots for Bangor while Jacques turned aside 12 of 33 in a valiant effort for Messalonskee.
JV: Bangor 7-0
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