The Bangor varsity boys soccer team beat neighboring Hampden Academy 1-0 away on Thursday evening, in the 2024 season opener for both sides.
Bangor junior forward Yostin Yax scored the game’s only goal in the 53rd minute, following a long header from junior Mason Studley through Hampden’s back line, shaking off the Broncos’ last defender and tucking the ball away bottom right.
The Rams finished with eight corner kicks and seven shots on goal. Hampden largely controlled possession in the first 10 minutes of play, but finished with just two corners and shots on goal apiece.
“We had three kids playing their first varsity game, and I thought defensively we did a really nice job,” Bangor head coach Donny Erb said. “Neither team generated a lot of chances, but Hampden played really hard and any time you can get a shutout, I’ll take it. After a long preseason, the guys were looking forward to playing a game that counts.”
Thursday’s low-scoring result was very different from last year’s season opener between the two rivals, in which Bangor prevailed 7-5 after five second half goals for each side.
This time around, openings on goal were much harder to come by.
“We just didn’t get the ball forward or get enough shots on goal,” Hampden junior midfielder Aiden Surran said. “We got out of position, and it eventually wore us down, having to chase the ball.”
Hampden’s best chance of the night came near the start of the first half, when junior forward Aidyn Ball capitalized on a Bangor turnover and cleanly curled a shot from the edge of the penalty box, but had his strike saved by freshman goalkeeper Maddox Smith.
On the other end, Bangor senior forward Tristan Shaw kept Hampden goalie Finn Hughes on edge with a shot over the crossbar in the 10th minute, and a rocket straight to his hands off a Ram throw-in in the 40th minute. The Rams continued to pepper Hughes in the second half, floating in dangerous set pieces and breaking through on Yax’s goal in transition.
“We just started playing with confidence, playing forward, and not going back every time,” Bangor senior captain Seamus MacDonald said. “It’s good to start the season with a win. The team’s really gelled this preseason. We have a lot more energy and focus than last year.”
Bangor and Hampden finished with just three wins apiece last year, and missed out on the Class A North playoffs. Both squads are looking forward to improving this season.
“We have a lot to do this year. We’re a younger team, with a lot of freshmen and sophomores,” Surran said. “I’m excited to see what we can do as a team.”
Next up, Bangor will take on Mt. Blue (1-0) away on Tuesday at 6 p.m., and Hampden will challenge Brunswick (1-0) away on Sept. 17 at 6 p.m.
