3 min read

AUBURN — Late goals by first-year players propelled Camden Hills to a 3-2 overtime victory over Edward Little on Thursday night.

The Windjammers’ tying and game-winning goals were scored by freshmen Cole Hedrich and Soren Johnson.

“Yeah, it’s great, they’ve all been maturing as the year goes on,” Camden Hills coach Ryan Hurley said. “And to like take a big step like that, at the end of the season in a big game … I’m pretty pumped. We’re going to have three more years with those guys.”

Down 2-1, Camden Hills (9-1-1) began its late push with about eight minutes remaining in regulations. Edward Little (6-4-1) cleared back-to-back corners, and goalie Max Kimble made saves down the stretch on 50-yard and 39-yard free kicks by the Windjammers.

“It was crazy,” Johnson said. “We had so many chances, and it really went well for us at the end.”

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Camden Hills tied the game with about three minutes left when, during was a scramble in the box, Hedrich found the back of the net. Camden Hills continued to push to get the game-winning goal before the end of regulation, but the clock ran out.

A little over two minutes into the extra frame, there was a battle in the box, and Johnson put the ball into the goal to end the game.

Johnson credited Windjammers defenseman Mac Pierce.

“I saw, like, Mac, he headed it, then … like, I got a header tap-in,” Johnson said. “It was all Mac, all Mac. I just got an easy tap-in.”

Edward Little players pleaded with the officials that Kimble got knocked down intentionally.

Red Eddies coach Max Thompson declined to be interviewed after the game.

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Camden Hills, ranked third in the latest Varsity Maine poll, scored the game’s first goal in the 25th minute.

The Windjammers controlled possession for a good portion of the first half and put pressure on Kimble with throw-ins towards the goal. Colby Bennett broke with a low shot into the net.

“The first 25, we played, really, how we wanted to, and then I think we lost focus a little bit — got a little impatient,” Hurley said. “We’re still kind of a young squad, so we are prone to … we definitely have mental lapses.”

Edward Little started to flip the field in the later stages of the first but didn’t struggled to create scoring chances.

The Red Eddies finally struck at the buzzer after Camden Hills didn’t give 10 yards on a free kick. The officials put 1.5 seconds back on the clock, and on the second attempt, Ben Cole’s kick sailed past Camden Hills keeper Brian Leonard to tie the game 1-1.

“At the end of the year, mental toughness makes a big difference, and we kind of lost focus for two minutes, and they made us pay. Ben hit a really good ball. That was a great goal.”

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Kimble made a key stop midway through the second half to keep the game tied. Camden Hills had another chance to take the lead in the 26th minute, but Noah Teel’s shot went wide.

Edward Little capitalized on a Camden Hills error when a defender tried to play the ball back to Leonard but Edward Little forward Joao Santana intercepted the pass and shot the ball into the net in the 27th minute.

“It definitely felt like a playoff game today,” Hurley said. “Everybody’s trying to make sure they get the best seed (they) can for the playoffs. And it was definitely back and forth. And I think we were a little fortunate to come out on the side of what we wanted to, but we did what we needed to do. So we’re pretty happy.”

Camden Hills is No. 1 in the Class A North Heal point standings, while Edward Little is fourth.

Nathan Fournier has been a sports reporter for the Sun Journal the past eight years. He enjoys hanging out with family and friends, watching sports when he's not working. He's a 2010 graduate of the New...

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