Even though he is in his 33rd season coaching the Orono High School girls soccer team, head coach Cid Dyjak said he still gets the same joy coaching as he did when he first took over the job.
“I absolutely love it,” said Dyjak. “Every day is so exciting. It is fun to see the effect our coaching has on them. It’s very rewarding.”
That passion for the sport has helped Dyjak develop one of the best programs in the state.
His Red Riots have won three Eastern Maine Class C titles in the last seven years.
They are 27-4-3 over the last two seasons.
They are again in pursuit of a first state championship, entering Tuesday’s games atop the Heal Points standings with a 5-0-1 record.
The only blemish was a 1-1 tie with two-time Eastern Maine Class B finalist Hermon and Dyjak said his team earned a lot of confidence from the tie.
The Red Riots edged contender Houlton 2-1 in their last game.
“That was a very good team we played. We were fortunate to have come out on top,” said Dyjak.
The Red Riots had their season end prematurely a year ago when they lost at home to Fort Kent 2-1 in overtime in the semifinals.
They had lost to Waynflete of Portland 3-2 in double overtime in the 2013 state final.
“We have some wonderful kids who work very hard,” said Dyjak. “It’s not magic. They put the time in during practice and games and when they play for their club teams. It’s an accumulation of what they’ve learned from year to year.
“We have had some good games this year and, hopefully, it will continue,” said Dyjak.”They want to get further in the playoffs than they did last year.”
He said his players aren’t just motivated to go deeper into the playoffs, “they are motivated to play good soccer.”
He has quality players all over the field.
Junior Brinsley Chasse is a game-changing central midfielder Dyjak calls “one of the most creative and competitive players I’ve ever coached. She is talented and plays with a tremendous amount of heart. She is always aware of what is happening on the field.”
She is joined in the central midfield by senior Lizzie White, another top-notch player.
Senior Jordan Hernandez capably marshals the back line as a center back and the two strikers are dynamic speedster Becky Lopez-Anido, a junior, and talented Norwegian exchange student Aashild Fridtun.
“Jordan is a wonderful communicator; Becky has a rare combination of skill and speed, and Aashild is a very technical player who is a great passer and is very calm,” said Dyjak.
The experienced back line is formidable with seniors Lauren Stoops and Samantha Round. Composed and skilled freshman Brooklynne White joins them in the back.
Junior Elise Kenney and sophomore Isabelle Henderson have nicely complemented Chasse in the midfield.
Katelyn Richards is a second-year starter in goal and has been strong.
Orono will host Bucksport on Wednesday.