Bangor, Hermon, Orono and Ashland all played in girls soccer state championship games last season.
Bangor won the Class A title, 2-0 over Gorham, and Orono annexed the C crown, 3-2 over Waynflete of Portland in two overtimes. Hermon lost 6-0 to Greely of Cumberland Center in the final, and Ashland lost to Richmond 1-0.
All are trying to make another run at a state championship as the top seeds in their respective classes as the regional quarterfinals begin on Wednesday.
Coach Joe Johnson said depth has been one of the keys to Bangor’s 14-0 campaign.
“We have good players in every position. With the depth we have and our conditioning program, it’s hard to match up against us for the full 80 minutes,” said Johnson.
“They’ve got better soccer sense than most teams in our league. They’ve grown up playing soccer together,” said Lewiston coach Brant Remington.
Libby Spekhardt and Luci Clein have been a potent attack tandem with Katie Butler and the speedy Maddy Cormier on the flanks. Megan Conner and freshman Eliza Jansujwicz have controlled the midfield and influential center back Grace Morris and tireless Lauren Young key the back line. Maddy Hodgdon and Page Cadorette have shared the goalkeeping for the Rams, who have outscored their opponents 53-6 with 10 shutouts, including six straight.
Camden Hills (13-1) is the second seed with its only loss coming to Bangor (3-2). The Windjammers are hoping to get a Class A North title game rematch with Bangor. Isabelle Gutheinz and Charlotte Messer are two of the state’s elite players.
Hermon’s loss to Greely in the state final last fall “left a bad taste in our mouths,” said Hawks coach M.J. Ball.
His players set a number of goals for themselves, and they have shattered them.
“We wanted to give up less than 10 goals and we’ve given up six,” said Ball.
Emi Higgins headlines the defense with Sierra Snow and Emily Perley. Bri Saulter is a dominant midfielder who leads the team with 13 assists.
“She never slows down,” said Ball, who has received 31 goals and 10 assists from forward Alex Allain.
Megan Chamberlain has supplied them with quality goalkeeping.
Second-seeded Waterville is 14-0, and coach Mark Serdjenian’s team has allowed only two goals with 12 shutouts while scoring 74 goals. Central defender Jordan Jabar and goalkeeper T.T. Branton have keyed the defensive effort, and Anika Elias has been a catalyst in the midfield.
Oceanside of Rockland/Thomaston is 10-1-3 and another top contender.
In Class C, top seeds Orono and Houlton appear to be on a collision course, although both could face challenges in the earlier rounds.
If they do reach the regional final, there will finally be a winner after the two teams tied their two regular-season games.
Orono (10-1-3) has been led by the dynamic pair of striker Becky Lopez-Anido and midfielder Brinsley Chasse along with goalkeeper Katelyn Richards. The Red Riots have struggled to score goals but have allowed only 12 en route to six, one-goal wins.
Striker Kolleen Bouchard and midfielder Aspen Flewelling have been two of Houlton’s standouts.
Ashland (14-0) outscored its opponents 111-6.
Ashland lost four seniors off last year’s team and had to dip into the eighth grade to get three players to remedy low numbers.
The Hornets have just two seniors, but coach Peter Belskis has a top-quality junior class led by Mackenzie Carter, who has 43 goals this fall and owns the school career record with 103.
“She’s gotten physically stronger and has learned a lot about protecting the ball,” Belskis said.
Junior Morgan Doughty has 20 goals, and freshman Shelby Stolze has 17. Four-year starter Cassidy Pelletier is a tower of strength at sweeper with junior Micayla Driscoll complementing her in the back. Junior Megan Cote is a seasoned goalkeeper.
Belskis feels Madawaska is a legitimate threat as is Penobscot Valley of Howland.
Third seed Madawaska is 10-4, but two losses came to a Class B Caribou team that is 10-3-1. The Owls also lost to Houlton and Fort Kent, but they beat Houlton 3-1 on the road.
“Jenna Dugal is as good as they come, and Hannah Nadeau is right with her,” said Belskis.
Despite losing 10 players off last year’s team, No. 2 Penobscot Valley is 13-1 and will regain the services of talented midfielder Lauren Reed, who had been sidelined by an injury. Midfielder Ryley Buck and freshman 20-goal scorer Lexi Ireland are the other catalysts.