George Stevens Academy’s Chris Bennett boots the ball up the field on a full volley during the Eagles’ preliminary game against Piscataquis on October 18. Courtesy of Ryan Mitchell
Blue Hill—After playing 80 minutes of regulation, two 15 minute overtimes and going through three rounds of a penalty kick shoot out on October 23, the George Stevens Academy boys soccer team had to take to the field the very next day to replay their Class C North quarterfinal matchup against the Orono Red Riots after the game was called due to darkness the first time around.
“I’ve never heard of anything like this,” said George Stevens Academy head coach Mark Ensworth.
After going into overtime for the second time in as many days, Orono scored in the early minutes of the first overtime to take the 3-2 win.
The October 24 game was played at Husson University. Orono took advantage of windy conditions to their backs in the first half, recording two goals to take the early advantage. George Stevens Academy had their own scoring opportunities but were not able to capitalize on those early efforts.
The Eagles got on the board in the opening minutes of the second half with a goal by Memphis Allen off a cross to the middle to cut the Red Riot lead to one. Both teams had several scoring opportunities thwarted by good goalkeeping, and midway through the second half the score remained in Orono’s favor.
With 19 minutes to go, the Eagles scored the equalizer off a Lars Hooper goal on a through ball by Owen Vinall from the right wing. It would be the final goal of regulation, as the game went into overtime tied 2-2.
With just five minutes gone by in the first overtime period, Orono scored the game winner to advance to the semifinals.
The first game was played in Orono, the higher ranked team in the standings. The game went into a shootout tied 1-1, but after 10 players from each team had taken penalty kicks, the score was still deadlocked and the darkness too much to go on.
In the regular season, games that are tied after two sudden death overtime periods end in a tie. In the playoffs, an outcome must be decided, according to Mike Bisson, Assistant Executive Director of the Maine Principal’s Association.
Officials turn to the rule book to handle games such as this one, which are “rare, but they happen,” said Bisson. The rule book states that “Tournament games which are suspended with the score tied shall be replayed in their entirety on a date determined by the MPA Soccer Committee.”