George Stevens Academy senior goalkeeper bess MacArthur boots a punt up the field during a home game against Orono on October 16. Courtesy of John Brooks
Blue Hill—It took two 40-minute halves and almost 30 minutes of overtime for the George Stevens Academy girls soccer team to give up a go ahead goal to the Fort Kent Warriors in a 0-1 quarterfinal loss in Fort Kent on October 23.
The George Stevens Academy defense limited the Warrior shots on goal in the first half, keeping the ball at midfield for most of the half. Senior goalkeeper Bess MacArthur came up with some big stops at the goal mouth as well to keep Fort Kent scoreless.
The Eagles offense had limited shots on goal as well, in a game that was a defensive stand off for most of the contest.
“We were really solid on defense throughout the game,” said head coach Steve Bemiss. “I would say it was the best game we played all season.”
The Eagles finished the season with a 5-6-4 record, which landed them in sixth place in the final Class C North heel point standings.
The team finished strong, with ties against Orono and Houlton to close out the regular season and jump them two spots in the standings entering the playoffs.
“[The tie] against Houlton was probably the second best game we played this season,” said Bemiss. “We lost 3-0 the first time we played them [in Houlton], and I knew that the goals they scored could have been prevented. I knew we could at least tie them, and that’s what we did.”
Bemiss added that the beginning of the season was a struggle, with the team recording a few losses before finding their stride. At the quarterfinal game in Fort Kent, he said he saw his team look the strongest it’s been all season.
“We finished the season on a high note,” he said. “I think I was as happy [with the way they played] as I would have been if we would’ve won.”
The team will graduate 12 seniors this year, and will look to its younger players with varsity experience and junior varsity players to help fill in some of the gaps that will be left behind by senior leaders like MacArthur, Mallory Charette on defense and Danielle Bianco on offense.
“We’re fortunate that we have about four or five really good freshmen that will help us out next season, but after that, I might have to start knocking on doors [to get interest],” Bemiss said with a chuckle.