Peter Belskis led the Ashland High School boys soccer team to four Eastern Maine championships and one state title during his 27 years at the helm. He retired in 2001.
But after a few years, he decided to get back into coaching.
He took over the Ashland girls soccer team nine years ago, and one of his first priorities was establishing a solid summer program which enabled his players the opportunity to play against other Aroostook County teams and develop their skills.
Several of his players also have attended the prestigious Dutch Soccer Academy at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
The Hornets have played in five Eastern Maine Class D championships over the past seven years and could play in another this season.
Buoyed by an infusion of youth, the Hornets took a 7-0 record and No. 1 ranking into Tuesday’s game against Van Buren.
They have a pair of impressive wins over defending state champion Washburn, 5-1 in Ashland on Sept. 8 and 8-2 at Washburn 10 days later.
“The summer programs have helped us so much,” said senior striker and captain Marissa Chasse. “And coach Belskis is very dedicated and knows his stuff.”
Chasse is just two goals away from tying Brooke Labelle’s school career scoring record of 58 goals.
“The girls make a big commitment,” Belskis said. “Some of the middle school kids will play with the high school kids in our summer program and that has helped. When they hit their freshman year, they aren’t a typical true freshman because they have already played with the older kids. They aren’t awed by anything. They’re able to compete, and it has made a big difference for us.
“And spending a whole week at the Dutch Soccer Academy is a big plus. They face good competition from all over the state,” he added.
Ashland had outscored its opponents 47-9 while having four freshmen among its starters, including a 13-year-old who is one of his leading scorers.
“It is a really talented group of freshmen. I’ve never started four freshmen before,” said Belskis.
Mackenzie Carter is the 13-year-old and one of the strikers. She has scored eight goals and is “fundamentally sound in all facets of the game,” according to Belskis.
Morgan Doughty is a highly-skilled midfielder who has three goals and a couple of assists, according to Belskis, who also can use her up front.
Micayla Driscoll is a talented shutdown defender who takes pride in keeping the ball out of her net. Belskis said Driscoll will always mark one of the opponents’ top two scorers and did an effective job on Washburn’s Mackenzie Worcester, who has scored over 100 goals in her career.
“Micayla is as good a freshman at this stage of her career as I have ever coached,” said Belskis.
The other freshman starter is 5-foot-9 goalkeeper Megan Cote.
“She is very long and very athletic,” said Belskis. “She’s very quick and has big hands.”
And Belskis would have a fifth freshman starter in Amber Chasse, but Chasse, Marissa Chasse’s first cousin, is out after tweaking her surgically repaired knee.
Amber Chasse, who had 111 goals in three seasons in middle school, scored on her first shot on goal and had three goals and two assists in a handful of games before the knee acted up.
There also are three freshmen reserves who see playing time in midfielders Alexis Craig and Emilee Lothrop and back Briana Harris.
“There is great talent in that class,” said Marissa Chasse, who is the team’s second-leading scorer with 10 goals.
Chasse and Carter are joined up front by resurgent junior Savannah Flint, who leads the team with 13 goals.
“Savannah had 20 goals as a freshman but had just 10 or 11 last year. She’s back on track now,” said Belskis.
Joining Doughty in the midfield are junior Caitlin Paradis, who Belskis said has “six or eight assists and is one of the best passers I’ve ever had,” along with fellow junior Chelsea Vaillancourt.
Accompanying Driscoll in the back are senior Sophie Theriault, sophomore Cassidy Pelletier and stopper Laura Sturgeon, who is a junior.
Junior Erica Cyr and sophomore Hannah Stratton provide midfield depth, and Brittany Harris, Briana Harris’ senior sister, also gets playing time.
Ashland went 15-2 a year ago, losing to Washburn 2-1 in the Eastern Maine final on a Carsyn Koch goal with four minutes remaining.
The two wins over Washburn this season has given the Hornets a confidence boost.
“It felt good to get both victories. But we aren’t going to be overconfident,” said Chasse. “We just want to keep getting better. We want to go further than we did last year.”