RUMFORD — After coaching the varsity for six years, Jarrod Dumas has stepped down as coach of the Mountain Valley boys’ soccer team. 

“It is hard to move on in one regard,” Dumas said. “Because the team is doing well, and I think that next year will be an improvement over this year, and the team will continue to move forward. That being said, there are now other things at play.”

Mountain Valley enjoyed its most competitive season in years and was in playoff contention entering the regular-season finale. The Falcons needed a win and were on the verge of securing a Class B playoff berth, but Wiscasset scored with 5:02 left in the game.

“I learned that it’s important for the (boys) to accept the idea that they are a team not 11 individual players,” said Dumas, who played for Mountain Valley from 1993 to 1996. “The most important thing that makes a team good is creating an atmosphere where the boys want to work hard to get better.  If the game becomes a chore, it’s going to be hard to make the team successful.”

The team proved to be competitive in games, coming up short in several one-goal losses.

“I’ve learned that there’s excitement in winning,” Dumas said. “But there should also be excitement from simply being part of a well played match.  There’s excitement in seeing your team be able to accomplish some thing that you’ve worked hard at for weeks on end.”