When Greg Bennett took over as the John Bapst High School soccer coach three years ago, he installed a possession-based style of play and began building a Class B North contender.
Then he received some good fortune.
Sophomore Naia Studley transferred to John Bapst from Hampden Academy. And the missing piece to the puzzle was in place.
Striker Studley has scored 41 goals and also assisted on six more goals and is part of one of the state’s most prolific and dynamic scoring tandems with junior attacking midfielder Quinn Bennett, the coach’s daughter.
Quinn Bennett has scored 17 goals and dished out 26 assists.
The Crusaders are 16-0-1 and will be playing in their first state championship game at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Cameron Stadium in Bangor against South champ Cape Elizabeth, 15-1-1.
“Naia truly works hard,” said Greg Bennett. “If you put the ball out there and it’s not directly to her, she will find a way to get her foot on the ball to keep possession going for us. Not many people can do that or are willing to do that because, truly, you have to put your body into certain positions and extend yourself and put yourself out there, and she is willing to do it.”
And the tireless Studley has a gritty side to her. Even though she is only 5-foot-3, she never shies away from contact and wins a lot of balls with her physicality.
Greg Bennett said his daughter has “definitely been a special player for us.”
“She has a great touch and an awareness around her,” the coach said. “She has been amazing.”
Quinn Bennett is instrumental in launching the attack and makes good decisions with the ball. She is also an aggressive, highly-skilled attacker who wins most of the 50-50 balls.
Quinn Bennett and Studley played soccer and basketball together on travel teams and school squads together growing up.
Greg Bennett said the key to his team’s success has been the fact they have “played as a team and trusted one another.”
“We started the program in regards to a possession-based system, and, this year, we’ve introduced getting off more shots and being able to take advantage of the situations we’ve been given,” he said. “If someone is open, we pass the ball. We don’t try to force things.”
Studley is joined up top by junior Ella Williams, who has 14 goals and nine assists. Senior Stella Goetz has come off the bench and produced eight goals.
Senior Rylie Soucy and sophomore Dani Brasslett are the holding midfielders, and the outside midfielders are junior Maggie Robichaud and either senior Carlie Soucy or junior Ella Johnson. The Soucys are twins.
The play of the midfield has been a vital key to their success.
The three starting backs are senior center back Reese Monnier along with junior left back Elza Cahn and junior right back Khloe Grass.
“I love our back three. They don’t get enough recognition,” Greg Bennett said. “I’m very appreciative of all of our backs and how hard they work.”
Sophomore Abby-May Turner, who had been a fullback on the jayvee team last season, has become the starting goalkeeper.
“She has learned a ton since the beginning of the season,” Bennett said. “I am so happy about how much she has (developed) over the years.”
Bapst has allowed only 11 goals while scoring 95. The Crusaders have posted 10 shutouts and held opponents to one goal or less 15 times.
Studley was named the Penobscot Valley Conference Class B Player of the Year and was joined on the All-PVC first team by Bennett, Robichaud and Monnier. Rylie Soucy was a second team selection, and Greg Bennett was the Coach of the Year.
He said he doesn’t know much about Cape Elizabeth, but said the team’s coach, Branden Noltkamper, coached in the Bangor area previously.
“They are obviously a strong team. Branden loves to have a good possession-based team, similar to us. It should be a good game,” Bennett said.
The John Bapst boys will also be seeking a state B title as the Crusaders will face Yarmouth at 11 a.m. Saturday at Cameron Stadium.
The Class A boys state final between Brunswick and Thornton Academy of Saco will kick off at 11 a .m. Saturday from Kennebunk; the C final featuring Fort Kent against Hall-Dale of Farmingdale will be played at 11 a.m. Saturday at Lewiston; the D state game between Monmouth Academy and Madawaska will be played at 11 a.m. Saturday at Messalonskee High in Oakland; and the Eight-Player final will pit Telstar of Bethel against Wisdom of St. Agatha in Presque Isle at 11 a.m. Saturday.
On the girls side, in addition to the John Bapst-Cape Elizabeth B final, Camden Hills of Rockport will face Scarborough at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Kennebunk in the A title game; Fort Kent and Maranacook of Readfield will play at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Lewiston for the C crown; the Penobscot Valley girls from Howland will seek a fourth straight state title against Monmouth Academy at Messalonskee beginning at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the D title game; and the Eight-Player girls final will see Bangor Christian and Wisdom squaring off at 1 p.m. Saturday in Presque Isle.