George Stevens Academy girls soccer co-coach Julia Baird talks over the first half with her team during a home game against MDI on September 26. Courtesy of John Brooks
Blue Hill—It has been a trying season for the George Stevens Academy girls soccer team. After finishing the 2018 season in sixth place and losing in the quarterfinals to eventual Class C State Champion Fort Kent in a 1-0 double overtime thriller, the 2019 team has yet to come up with a win.
The team has had some close contests. Their game against Washington Academy was decided by only one goal, and in their last game against Orono on September 28, the team managed to register a scoreless tie.
Though the score has yet to come out in their favor, the players have continued to keep their spirits up and their determination high. For co-coach Julia Baird, this has been something that has left her in awe.
“The girls on this team have more heart and motivation than I have seen in a team,” she said.
Baird, who coaches the team alongside Mike Kazmierczak, said that the group has a bond both on and off the field, and work together as a team and for each other.
“They build each other up, and play hard through the entire game, no matter the score. They say, ‘zero-zero’ after they get scored on to each other to show that they are going to keep working and not focus on trailing in goals,” she said.
The team travels to Ellsworth on October 3, the second match between the two Eagles teams. Ellsworth won the first contest 3-0 in what was GSA’s second game of the season. The Eagles will then host Searsport on October 4, a game that was decided by two goals the first time around in GSA’s season opener. The game at Ellsworth kicks off at 5 p.m., while the Searsport game is scheduled for 4 p.m.
The Eagles will finish out the season with games against Washington Academy, Dexter and Orono.