MADAWASKA, Maine — Propelled by home crowd support, Madawaska Middle/High School defeated Wisdom Middle/High School in an 8-0 shutout during their Class D North quarterfinal soccer game on Wednesday.
The No. 3 Owls set the tone of the game less than three minutes into play when Jenna Dugal opened scoring on a Gabby Cyr assist. Not a minute later, Dugal assisted Sam Boucher for another Madawaska goal.
Dugal scored yet again before the game clock had run down 10 minutes, this time on a Hannah Nadeau assist.
Dugal racked up five goals in the first half. Kasie Blanchette cemented Madawaska’s lead to 7-0 by the half, with an assist by Emily Boucher.
Madawaska’s Hannah Nadeau scored the only goal of the second half, assisted by Kayla Martin.
Brianne Thibeault and Paige Brown registered one assist each for the Owls.
“I think it was a team effort — team defense and team offense — and we’ve got to keep it that way,” Madawaska coach Tom Gerard said of the victory.
“Individuals get the credit. The team gets the win or the loss,” Gerard said.
The No. 11 Pioneers were not without heart during the game. Wisdom goalkeeper Alyssa Banville saved 13 of 21 Madawaska shots, leaving the field with a jersey barely recognizable because of all the mud and grass stains from her efforts.
Madawaska goalkeeper Desiree Belanger successfully guarded one shot on goal by Wisdom.
The underdog Pioneers defeated No. 6 Hodgdon by a score of 4-1 in preliminary postseason play to challenge Madawaska in the quarterfinal.
The Pioneers finish their season 7-7-2, under coach Brandon Lavoie.
Madawaska, 11-4, advances to the semifinals, where they will take on No. 2 Penobscot Valley (14-1) on Friday at Penobscot.
“I know they’re good opponents. We look forward to competing. We like to play good teams, and we play one game at a time,” Gerard said.