While the Southern Aroostook of Dyer Brook girls will be looking to continue their reign in Class D today, Orono will be gunning to start one in Class C.
The defending state champion Warriors will vie for their second straight state title when they take on Greenville in a 2008 rematch at 12:30 p.m. The Red Riots, back in the state championship match for the second year in a row, are gunning for the first state crown in program history when they meet Georges Valley of Thomaston at 5:30 p.m.
Both games will be played at Hampden’s Weatherbee Complex.
The Class A game pits Brunswick against Thornton Academy of Saco at 12:30 p.m. and the Class B contest features Winslow vs. York at 5:30, with those matches being contested in Scarborough.
Class C: Last fall, Orono was experiencing the grandest of girls soccer stages for the first time, and were humbled in a 4-0 loss to Waynflete of Portland.
But after defeating Fort Kent 1-0 to capture the Eastern Maine crown, coach Cid Dyjak’s club celebrated, smiled, then started thinking about the task ahead.
“It still feels just as amazing, and now we just want to go even further,” junior goalkeeper Elizabeth Fox said. “We’re going to states and we just really want to win.”
Orono has played well defensively this postseason, having surrendered only two goals, but the best effort — thus far anyway — was saved for when it mattered most.
“The best defensive game we’ve played all year, midfielders too,” Fox said of the effort against a well-skilled Fort Kent team which had scored five goals in its two previous postseason games.
Orono’s scoring threats include Ruth Mares, Chloe Paul, Alex Crocker and Meghan Curtis.
Mares scored the only goal in the regional final against Fort Kent.
Caliegh Paul, Lauren Dwyer and Laura Triandafillou anchor the defense in front of Fox.
Georges Valley, which comes in undefeated at 15-0-2, has a fine defense of its own, as freshman goalkeeper Kennadi Grover stymied a high-powered Waynflete team in the Western Maine final as the Buccaneers nipped the Flyers 2-1.
Jill Bradbury and Jen Denault provided the offense while the Bucs’ back line shut down Waynflete stars Morgan Woodhouse and Sasha Timpson.
Class D: Southern Aroostook and Greenville certainly aren’t strangers to one another, as each club only graduated two seniors from a 2008 clash won 1-0 by the Warriors in overtime.
Coach Holly Vining’s club is well-balanced offensively, fueled by sisters Elizabeth and Evangeline Goodall, who accounted for three goals between in a 4-0 victory over Ashland in the regional final.
Other key contributors have been Rochelle Nadeau, Kim Pratt, and another set of sisters in Jasmine and Janel Rockwell.
“That type of teamwork is what we’ll be looking for on Saturday,” Vining said.
Defensively, goalkeeper Emily Cummings has allowed only one postseason goal, while Lauren McGary, Kaitlyn Somers, Shelby Hartin and Jasmine Rockwell have been tough in front of their keeper.
Greenville was lifted into the state final by McKenna Peat’s goal in a 1-0, double-overtime win over previously unbeaten Richmond.
“They just won in double overtime for the Western championship, so they’re no stranger to games like that and neither are we,” Vining said. “Hopefully it’ll pay off for us.”
Class B: This contest is a rematch of the 2007 state final, won by York 2-1.
While Winslow erupted offensively to win the Eastern Maine championship, the Wildcats relied on defense to oust defending state champ Falmouth 2-0 in the Western Maine game.
York will need to shut down a dynamic Winslow attack fueled by freshman Alliyah Veilleux, who scored two goals in the Black Raiders’ 6-1 EM title game win over Caribou.
Veilleux, a halfback, is very quick and skilled in the midfield and York will need to keep a close eye on her when she gets space with the ball.
While Winslow’s roster is dotted with young talent, York is powered by a cast of 11 seniors.
It was a freshman, however, in Alexa Bando who scored what proved to be the game-winner against Falmouth.
Emma Clark is another top offensive catalyst, with 30 assists.
Class A: Brunswick is back in the state final for the first time since 2004, when it beat Greely of Cumberland Center 1-0. Thornton Academy has never appeared on this stage.
The Dragons boast one of the more dynamic attacks in the state, fueled by Alison Walton and Hilary Champagne.
Ellie Arsenault netted the game-winner for the Trojans in a 2-1 regional final win over Gorham while assisting on a first-half goal.
