Aashild Fridtun’s mother and sister were Norwegian foreign exchange students in America so she thought she would give it a try.
She wound up at Orono High School, and girls soccer coach Cid Dyjak is glad she did.
Fridtun is among the Riots’ leading scorers and has helped lead them to the Class C North title and a berth in Saturday’s 10 a.m. state championship game against Waynflete of Portland in Presque Isle.
Fridtun is one of several newcomers who have played important roles in leading their teams to North regional championships. Bangor is the “A” champ, Hermon is the “B” winner and Ashland captured “D.”
Fridtun said the transition to life in America “hasn’t been that difficult.”
“I haven’t been homesick yet,” said the Oslo native. “I really like it here. It has a lot of similarities to Norway … the landscape, the climate and different seasons.”
Fridtun, who speaks fluent English, said Norway has club teams rather than school teams.
“The level of soccer is really good here. I’ve learned a lot. I’ve become more confident because I’ve been playing with different types of players who have different styles,” she said. “You develop a lot that way.”
Fridtun has “a very high soccer IQ,” Dyjak said. “She knows where people are, she makes passes at the right time, and she’s a great team player. When she shoots, she puts it where the goalie can’t reach it.”
He added the tall 16-year-old junior also is “very strong on the ball.”
Fridtun, speedy striker Becky Lopez-Anido and influential midfielder Brinsley Chasse have been the offensive catalysts. They each have about 15 goals and 15-20 assists.
“[Fridtun] has really helped us connect passes and has introduced a new element to our team,” said Lopez-Anido who, along with several others, has encouraged Fridtun to shoot more.
“Back home, they told me to shoot more, too,” said Fridtun. “I try to shoot when I can.”
The other newcomer who has been a key to Orono’s success is diminutive outside back Brooklynne White.
“She is a smart player. She’s very calm, she has good skills, she makes great decisions, and she uses her body very well, all 95 pounds of it,” said Dyjak.
Bangor has received a team-high 16 goals to go with four assists from freshman striker Libby Spekhardt, and Bella Varisco has been outstanding at center back.
“Libby can receive the ball with her back to the goal, her first touch is great and she can shoot real well with both feet,” Bangor coach Joe Johnson said. “Bella understands the game, she’s very smart, very athletic and very good with her feet.”
Hermon has received vital contributions from freshmen back Emma Allmon, back-striker Allison Treat and striker Olivia Nash.
“Emma is a very strong defender with great feet, Allison is a versatile left-side player who can make great crosses, and Olivia is very fast who can get in behind defenders. She has four goals,” Hermon coach M.J. Ball said.
For Ashland, freshman starter Olivia Tardie has supplied stability to the midfield, according to coach Peter Belskis. Fleet-footed Kassandra Nelson provides a spark and goal scoring punch (eight goals) off the bench, and Camryn Deabay is a strong, physical defensive midfielder. Senior Samantha Watt returned to Ashland after living in North Carolina for three years and has helped provide valuable depth in the back.