The girls high school soccer rivalry between Orono and Houlton has been one of the most compelling in recent years.
The last six games between the two has either been decided by one goal or wound up in a tie.
That includes last fall’s 2-1 win for Orono in the Class C North championship game and Houlton’s 3-2 triumph earlier this month.
They square off again Saturday at noon in Orono.
The Shiretowners (9-0), thanks to the early-season win over the defending two-time Class C state champs, go into the game atop the Heal Point standings by nearly 12 points over the second-place Red Riots (7-1).
A Houlton victory would all but ensure the top seed and home-field advantage throughout the regional playoffs. An Orono victory would make things interesting down the stretch.
The Red Riots facing a Shires team that has posted five consecutive shutouts.
“I’m looking for an exciting game between two good teams who will hopefully play fun, attractive soccer,” said Orono coach Cid Dyjak, who admitted he has been surprised at his team’s start.
The Riots lost influential midfielders Brinsley Chasse and Lizzie White, standout goalkeeper Katelyn Richards and dynamic, fleet striker Becky Lopez-Anido to graduation.
“I wasn’t sure we’d be able to put it together quite as rapidly as we have,” said Dyjak. “I thought we’d be a work in progress. I’m happy with the progress we’ve made and, hopefully, we’ll keep it going. We’re a young team.”
Sophomore Izzy Baker and freshman Brynn Kenney, who are both strikers, are Orono’s top scorers. Senior Becca Gallandt has joined junior Brooklynne White to control the midfield.
White is in her first season in the midfield after starting in the back her first two years.
“That has been a nice change. She has really helped us. She has been a wonderful leader and she sees the field very well,” said Dyjak.
Returning starters Isabel Henderson, a senior, and Lauren Melanson, a junior, headline a back line that also includes senior Jenna Gaetjen and sophomore Leah Ruck. Sophomore Maggie Coutts is a first-year starter in goal.
It is one of several intriguing matchups on Saturday.
Class B North leader Caribou (8-0) travels to Hermon (6-1-1) at 1 p.m. Hermon was the regional finalist a year ago and looks to bounce back from a 3-1 loss to John Bapst of Bangor on Thursday.
Brewer (5-2-1) visits North Hampden Academy (3-4-1) at 11 a.m. Brewer is third the Class B Heal Points while Hampden is ninth in Class A, less than a point behind Mt. Blue of Farmington for the eighth and final playoff slot. It is the only game of the season between the two local rivals.
Class D North contender Penobscot Valley of Howland (8-1) hopes to avenge its only loss when it hosts Class C Piscataquis Community High School of Guilford (2-6) at 11 a.m. PCHS, a 3-1 winner over the Howlers on Sept. 12, has lost four straight since that win.
PVHS is riding a five-game winning streak and is second to Ashland in the standings. PCHS is 11th in the points and only the top 10 qualify, but the Pirates are only percentage points behind No. 10 George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill.
Tim Tweedie’s Houlton team has been led by 19-goal scorer Kolleen Bouchard, a veteran and exceptional back line of seniors Tyra Gentle, Claire Gilpatrick, Lexi Miller and Aspen Flewelling and senior goalkeeper Tessa Solomon.
Gentle, Gilpatrick, Miller and Flewelling are three-year starters.
“But it hasn’t just been our goalkeeper or our defenders, everyone from front to back has been committed to defense,” said Tweedie.
Bouchard has been complemented nicely in the scoring department by senior forward Mia Hanning, who has six or seven goals according to Tweedie.
“They have some very good players and they have experience,” observed Dyjak. “Bouchard is an excellent player. She has really good vision on the field. And Hanning is a threat at any time.”
The Caribou-Hermon matchup features two of the region’s top scorers in Caribou’s Searra Herbert and Hermon’s Alex Allain. Both are seniors.
They are also complemented by an excellent supporting cast.