The Bangor High School girls soccer team captured the program’s third state Class A championship last fall.
With seven starters returning, the Rams are poised and ready to defend their state title, which was the team’s first since 2015.
Bangor went 17-1 a year ago and allowed only 13 goals in those 18 games. They had 11 shutouts.
They continued that momentum this summer with what Bangor coach Jay Kemble called a “tremendous preseason.”
Bangor had scrimmages against Scarborough, Yarmouth, Greely of Cumberland Center and Winslow and outscored them 20-2.
The Rams will have to replace four starters in All-American attacking midfielder Teagan Atherley along with standout back JaLynn Williams, goalkeeper Eva Coombs and forward Ayzlynn Gifford.
Atherley set a school record with 37 goals last fall and is the program’s all-time leading goal scorer with 70. She also had 12 assists last fall.
“We’re looking really good,” said senior inside back Sophia Chase, one of the five captains. “We definitely have people who can fill those spots.”
One of Bangor’s top attributes is its team speed. Several players are track standouts.
Chase won the long jump for the Rams’ state championship outdoor track team, was third in the 100 meter hurdles, fifth in the 300 hurdles and ran a leg for the sixth place 4-by-400 relay team. Gabby Roy ran a leg for the triumphant 4-by-100 relay team and also ran a leg for the 4-by-400 relay while finishing ninth in the 400 meter run. Ava Syphers won the discus throw.
“We have good team speed and some of our kids have elite speed,” said Kemble. “They have explosive speed and can accelerate quickly. That helps us tremendously in terms of our defensive play.”
Senior right back Avery Clark said that speed is really important for the team.
“We can stay with anybody. That really helps,” said Clark, another captain.
Chase said there will be added pressure because they are the defending state champs but quickly noted that they’ve gained a lot of confidence.
“We know everybody will be coming for us and will want to beat us but it’s nothing we can’t handle,” Clark said.
Another senior captain, attacking midfielder Clara Oldenburg, said she doesn’t think there will be much added pressure.
“Obviously, we all want to defend our title, but if we all stay focused on the goal and work hard, we will have a great chance,” Oldenburg said about trying to repeat as state champs.
Bangor beat Scarborough in last year’s state title game 3-1 after losing to Scarborough 2-0 in the 2023 state final.
“We moved the ball well. We applied pressure well and the girls who were playing new positions connected well,” Kemble said.
“We played so well, I’m so excited for the regular season. I can’t wait to see what we become during the [playoffs],” said Chase.
“We will be competitive. There is a maturation process because we have to move people around to replace the graduating seniors who impacted the program so much over their four years,” Kemble said. “We have to put people into positions that will allow us to be able to have the most success and that takes a little bit of time to bring it all together.”
Oldenburg was an All-New England and All-State first team performer last year as she scored 25 goals and assisted on a team-high 24 more.
Oldenburg complemented Atherley as an attacking midfielder and will assume Atherley’s position by moving further up the field.
“I’m hoping to contribute goals and assists and help everybody around me play better,” Oldenburg said. “I want to help us work as a team.”
The back line features two All-Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference and All-Northern Maine selections in Clark and JoJo Clukey. Chase is the other returning starter in the back.
Chase is making the transition from outside back to right center back where she will join Clukey, the left center back. Clark remains the outside right back and Kemble said he has a number of players capable of filling the outside left back spot including returnees Gabby Spreng, Quinn Andrews, Brookelyn Schmerzel and Brewer High transfer Ainsley Goodwin.
Another returnee, Ava Syphers, can also play in the back.
Oldenburg will be joined in the midfield by Kyelin Atherley, younger sister of Teagan who had five assists last fall and Gabby Gordon (4 goals) with Goodwin also being able to play in the midfield. Callen Pooler, the only freshman on the roster, is an attacking midfielder.
Atherley will be a holding midfielder after being a striker last fall.
Sophomore Georgie Stephenson, who had the winning and insurance goals in the state title game, will headline the list of forwards. She finished with 15 goals and seven assists last year.
Two other senior captains, Gabby Roy (5 goals, 2 assists) and Maddie McLean (3 goals), will join Stephenson up front. Roy scored in the 3-2 win over Camden Hills of Rockport in the A North final and against Scarborough in the state title game.
Lucy O’Connell, Reese Trott and Delaney Horr are among the other attacking options. Horr has returned after not playing last season. She played her freshman and sophomore years.
Bangor scored 101 goals in 2024.
Emily Caulkins will be the goalkeeper and missed a lot of last season due to a hand injury.
“She would have received extensive playing time last year [if not for the injury]. She is a really talented goalie,” Kemble said.
Teammate Clark called Caulkins “a great goalie” who has “improved so much.”
Lydia Hewes is a forward, Syphers can also play up front and Annabelle Pierce is a midfielder-forward. Nora Zeigler can play as a forward or a back.
Bangor’s depth has also been very beneficial.
“We have great subs who can come in and give us some great minutes,” Oldenburg said.
Bangor will open the season at Lewiston on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 11 a.m.
The Rams will bring a 15-game winning streak into the contest.