PRESQUE ISLE — It is on to the Class C state championship for the Fort Kent girls soccer team.
No. 3 Fort Kent (10-4-3 overall) pulled off the thrilling 1-0 upset victory over top-ranked Houlton (14-1-2) Wednesday evening in a game decided on penalty kicks after neither squad was able to crease the net during 80 minutes of regulation and two 15-minute overtime periods.
The Warriors play Western Maine champion Sacopee Valley of South Hiram (13-2-3) in Saturday’s 5:30 p.m. state title game at Deering High School in Portland.
The game was played at the Johnson Athletic Complex in Presque Isle because Houlton’s home field was not suitable for use after 18 inches of snow blanketed the region on Sunday.
“You hate for a game like this to end on penalty kicks,” Fort Kent coach Robbie Nadeau said. “Honestly, either team had chances to win here tonight.”
Neither team, however, was able to find the back of the net during regulation or overtime. During that time span, both teams had plenty of opportunities as the Shiretowners and the Warriors each had 20 shots on goal.
Stellar play from Houlton junior goalie Katie Condon and Fort Kent senior netminder Alexa Pelletier, who each had 15 saves on the night, kept the game scoreless.
Fort Kent held a sizeable 13-3 advantage in corner kicks.
Since neither team was able to score, the game was decided by penalty kicks, with Fort Kent successfully making four shots to Houlton’s three. Nadeau praised the effort of his senior goalie, particularly during the penalty kicks.
“I think Alexa Pelletier is the best goalie in the state,” Nadeau said. “She didn’t make All-East, and I am not sure what some of the coaches were thinking about that, but I would put her in goal against anybody, anywhere, anytime.”
“It’s a tough way to lose a championship, but I completely respect and understand this (scenario),” Houlton coach Tim Tweedie said.