Drawing soccer powers like Yarmouth and Cape Elizabeth to start the season isn’t the best of scenarios for any team.

That’s what the schedule looked like for the Poland boys. The Knights lost to Yarmouth 7-0 on opening night, and then lost to Cape 4-1 in the third game of the season.

The Knights didn’t let those humbling experiences get them down. After that loss to the Clippers, Poland has gone 2-1-1, including a win and tie in its last two games.

“We had two really tough games at the beginning with Yarmouth and Cape,” junior forward Kyle Radziszewski said. “We knew coming in there were two of the hardest games of the season. We fought through those.”

Now the Knights are focused on improving on what they did last fall. Poland went 3-9-2 before losing in the Western B preliminary. They’re currently ranked fifth in the standings.

Poland beat Wells 2-0 after the opening-game loss. Then they came from behind last week to edge Sacopee Valley, 3-2. They rallied again to tie Fryeburg Saturday.

Poland has played well enough to win the last two games, but made enough mistakes to give opponents opportunity. The Knights are improving, and with 12 upperclassmen back from last year, Poland’s future appears bright.

“We’ve been working really hard the last few years to develop our understanding of the game,” Poland coach Kris Wright said. “I think where in the past we had to rely on guts and hard work, we’re able to move the ball a little bit better than in the past. That starts with our midfield. These guys in the middle are interchangeable. They hold the ball for us. They distribute out of that. They get it back. They’re our threat.”

It has given the Knights a balanced and experienced lineup. Seniors like Cody Kostro, whether in the back or in the middle, helps move Poland’s play forward. Senior Derek Michaud and juniors Own Priola, Patrick Kuklinski and Radziszewski lead a club that could take a step forward this year.

“(Kostro) hold us together back there and wins a lot of the balls that we haven’t won in the past,” said Wright, whose team has battled injuries to some fullbacks but make do with some depth.

The Knights have some challenges against tradition powers like Falmouth, Waynflete and North Yarmouth Academy, but Poland also plays rivals Gray-New Gloucester, Lake Region and Freeport (twice). All three are teams behind them in the standings.

“I’m feeling really good about the year,” Kuklinski said. “I think we’re pretty solid so far.”

Close calls

The Lisbon girls’ soccer team remains unbeaten at 5-0-1. The Greyhounds are coming off a 2-2 tie with Monmouth on Saturday.

Of Lisbon’s six games, four of them have been nail-biters, including three one-goal wins for the Greyhounds.

Lisbon beat Oak Hill 3-2 to start the year. After 9-0 and 3-0 wins over Telstar and Boothbay respectively, the Greyhounds have been clutch. Lisbon beat Dirigo last week 2-1 and then edged Wiscasset 1-0. Then, the Greyhounds fended off unbeaten Monmouth for the tie.

Lisbon is still a growing team with many new faces, but the Greyhounds still have nine players back from a club that went 6-10 and lost in a Western C preliminary.

Sophomore Ali Sult, with 25 saves against Monmouth, has proven herself in net and the defense in front of her is solid, led by seniors Kailyn Hill and Drew Stewart-Staples and sophomore Chandler Riordan. Junior forward Deliah Schreiber has led the charge up front. She had two goals in the win over Dirigo last week and another pair against Monmouth. That was after missing a game with an injury.

Western D rematch

The Buckfield girls’ get a rematch with unbeaten Richmond Tuesday. The Bobcats beats the Bucks in the Western D final last fall, 3-0.

Richmond, which lost to Washburn in the state game,  returns more than a dozen players from last year’s team and looks formidable this fall. The Bobcats (5-0) have scored 40 goals and have allowed none.

The Bucks (2-1-1)  are coming off a 3-2 loss to Rangeley. Those were the only goals Buckfield has allowed all season.

Richmond is the top seed in Western D at the moment. The Bucks are ranked fifth and certainly could use the Heal Points.

The Buckfield boys’ team also has a key game at Richmond, also a 4 p.m. The Bucks are 4-1 and hoping to be a team that can challenge the Bobcats. The Bucks have outscored teams 22-8 this season, that includes a 5-2 loss to Sacopee Valley.

Richmond, now coached by longtime Brunswick coach Peter Gardner, also has most of its team back from last year. The Bobcats lost to Bangor Christian in the state game.

Richmond has outscored opponents 34-2, including a win over NYA. Richmond is currently ranked first in Western D, while the Bucks are third.

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