A year ago, the St. Dom’s girls’ soccer team struggled out of the gate, going 2-2. The Saints had lost some key seniors and lost one of their top returnees to an injury. That left St. Dom’s with some growing pains before winning 12 of its last 13 in a late season run to their first Western C title and a hearbreaking loss in the Class C state championship.

This year the Saints started the year in full stride, even though St. Dom’s is still having to replace 11 graduated seniors.

“It was definitely hard last year when we lost a lot of seniors but this year it seems like we’re picking it up,” said junior midfielder Marley Byrne. “Everyone is filling their roles pretty well.”

The Saints only have six seniors on this year’s unbeaten club. Still, St. Dom’s has been able to mix some young talent in with veterans. Byrne, Kayla McLellan, Courtney Costello, Kelley McLellan and Emily Poulin are staples from last year’s club, but players like Kirsten Conner, Faith Grady, Kelly Pomerleau, Emily Caron, Sarah Trott and Sam Ladd are filling in huge roles quite nicely. The Saints haven’t missed a beat as a result.

“We’re young,” said St. Dom’s coach Kathy Little. “We do have six seniors. There’s a few returning from last year that saw the minutes. But there are players that were swing players or JV players last year that are stepping up their game and filling in. We have a balanced attack.”

After seven games, the Saints are 6-0-1 and have scored 20 goals while allowing just one.

— Kevin Mills

Nice Fit

The Oak Hill girls’ soccer team is liking its new surroundings. Playing in the MVC seems to be a pretty good situation for the Raiders. Oak Hill is currently 5-3 and fourth in Western B after seven games.

“It’s a better fit for us,” said Oak Hill coach Nicole Camire. “We’re enjoying it a lot. It keeps our attitudes up because we’re able to compete a little more.”

Playing in the KVAC B meant for some long bus rides and stiff competition. It made it a challenge for Oak Hill to earn a spot in an already crowded Western B playoff field.

“We’re excited to be in the MVC because it was tough to match up with some of those big team in the KVAC like Camden and Oceanside,” said Camire. “They’re all real tough.”

Though the MVC’s mix of Class B and mostly C teams is all new to the Raiders, the level of play has suited the Oak Hill nicely.

— Kevin Mills

More Milestones

Waynflete coach Brandon Salway earned another milestone this week with his team’s 8-0 win over Sacopee Valley. It was the 200th career coaching win with the Flyers soccer program.

Salway is a Bethel native and Telstar grad. He’s been coaching at Waynflete for 22 years. This past winter he reached the same milestone with the girls’ basketball program.

The Flyers won its first Class C state championship last fall and are currently 5-0. Waynflete won three Class D states and have been to the C final twice in the last three seasons.

— Kevin Mills

Don’t give up the ship

Last week, Monmouth Academy girls’ soccer coach Gary Trafton proudly watched his team dig its heals in and come out on top with a 1-0 victory over Mt. Abram in double overtime.

What was remarkable about the Mustangs’ hard-fought win, beside Kylie Kemp punching in the game-winning goal on a direct kick with 4 seconds left in OT, was their stamina and persistence.

“It was a total team effort,” said Trafton. “The kids battled. They didn’t give up the whole game. This was our second overtime that we won.”

That kind of dedication and devotion has allowed the Mustangs to stay on track to make the playoffs. And Monmouth doesn’t mind putting in overtime for a crack at a state title.

— Tony Blasi

Head over heels

When the going gets tough, Lisbon’s Gabby Ouellette flips out — especially on defense.

Ouellette’s flip throws keep teams off balance. Just ask the Telstar Rebels, who suffered a 4–0 loss in a girls’ soccer game last Wednesday.

Telstar coach Bob Remington was certainly impressed with Ouellette’s acrobatics.

Remington told the Brunswick Record Times: “I told the girls in 30 years I have seen a lot of flip throws, but male or female, I have never seen anyone do it as well as she does.”

Ouellette, who is also a cheerleader, is capable of tossing the ball 40 yards on a flip throw. One of Ouellette’s long-distance throws was headed in the net by teammate Kayla Angelico the game against the Rebels.

“We have set plays and she uses it in our defensive end to clear the ball out,” said Lisbon coach Jake Gentle. “She taught herself how to do that.”

And now Gabby Ouellette is an expert at the flip throw.

— Tony Blasi