Blue Hill—The GSA boys soccer team began its season with a win, beating Dexter on the road in a high scoring 6-3 match on September 1, that saw 15 saves at the net.
With core 2017 senior players gone, pre-season scrimmages against Belfast and Brewer helped the team settle in together before the regular season began, Coach Mark Ensworth said.
“We were able to play some tough teams. As the preseason progressed, I felt [the team] played better together and improved on things we were trying to work on, which is all I can ask.”
Returning are last season’s second and third leading scorers, junior Owen Vinall and sophomore Mike Moon, who each scored in the win at Dexter, to add to freshman David Gadsby’s two, and one each by Ethan Vinall and Ricardo Sanchez.
Ethan Vinall returned to the field along with sweeper Jeremiah Scheff and Memphis Parker, while moving up from junior varsity, goalkeeper Jed Sawyer “is ready to step in and perform at a high level,” Ensworth said.
“We didn’t lose a high number of players from last year, but they were from key positions,” he continued. “The beginning of the season is like a puzzle seeing where everyone fits best, what formation will exemplify their strengths, how we will create offense and defend, etc.”
The Eagles, who finished runner-up in Class C North the last two years—to Washington Academy in 2016, and Fort Kent in 2017—will take this season one match at a time, Ensworth said. Now in his fifth year as head coach, Ensworth said he learns more each season and is “lucky to have great assistants, Will Simon and Tim Ensworth. This allows us to diversify and get the most out of the players.”
The Eagles played their first home game on Wednesday, against Bucksport (score not available by press time). Their next home game is September 12 against MDI.
2018 GSA boys soccer team. Courtesy of George Stevens Academy
The 2018 George Stevens Academy boys soccer team includes, in front from left, Cameron Audet, Arden Weaver, Lars Hooper, Owen Vinal, Chris Bennett, Austin Snow, Michael Moon and Ben Hallett. In back are Liam Webb, Dylan Thompson, Grayson Eaton, Ricado Sanchez, Andrew Rideout, Parker Allen, David Gadsby, Tobin McMahon-Alwine, Memphis Parker, Ethan Vinal, Meredith Bradshaw-Thomas, Jeremiah Scheff, Franklin Sealander and Jed Sawyer.