BATH — Brothers Brendan and Cameron Emmons are beyond the point where games played together in a Richmond uniform are guaranteed.
The start of the Western Maine Class D boys soccer playoffs last week meant they would have to earn every game together from that point forward, and Wednesday night at McMann Field the brothers did just that.
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Brendan Emmons, a sophomore, scored off a corner kick taken by his older brother Cameron, a senior, with 2:22 remaining in regulation to give the Bobcats a 1-0 victory over Buckfield in the Western D championship.
“We were just trying to get a goal on a header,” Brendan Emmons said. “That’s what we’ve been practicing every practice.”
The Bobcats will play the winner of Bangor Christian and Ashland for the Class D championship Saturday at 10 a.m. at Hampden Academy.
During the regular season Buckfield was one of the only teams to give the Bobcats any trouble — with Richmond winning both meetings 2-1 — and the Bucks did not disappoint Wednesday.
“They’ve given us the best games we’ve had all year,” Brendan Emmons said.
Prior to the contest the Richmond girls trounced Searsport 8-1 in its Western D final, and interestingly enough the boys championship could not have been any more different as the two teams played to a scoreless tie at half.
“There were times there where we got into the ball getting up and not being patient — particularly in the first half,” Richmond coach Peter Gardner said.
The Bucks had their chances here and there in the second frame, but the further the game went along it only seemed like a matter of time before the Bobcats broke through — only they didn’t.
“They were putting good pressure on us on the midfield,” Cameron Emmons said. “(They were) kind of not letting us play our game and keep possession as long as we would have liked.”
Try after try from anywhere between 20 and 35 yards found its way on net, only to be turned away by Buckfield’s goalkeeper. Both Emmons brothers and senior Bailey Johansen each had promising opportunities that were either just off the mark or saved.
“About halfway into the second half I started to get a little anxious,” Cameron Emmons said. “I think we all got a little anxious to get that first goal out of the way.”
More and more it seemed as if the game was destined for overtime, yet in the 68th minute the Bobcats finally broke through when Cameron Emmons’ corner kick found his brother along the back post for the game-winning header.
“We’ve assisted on quite a few of each other’s (goals) but I’d say that this is probably the biggest,” Cameron Emmons said. “That play was designed for me to curl it in, but I just missed it and he happened to be there. It worked out.
“…We’ve played together pretty much our whole lives and that’s why we have such a special connection. We kind of know where each other are on the field and where to put it.”
It was certainly a special moment for the Emmons family as the boys’ father, Ron, is an assistant coach with the Bobcats and was on the sideline for the dramatic finish.
“It’s pretty awesome. You watch them growing up, coaching them from micro soccer coming up through all the way it’s pretty exciting,” the proud father said. “(Cameron) didn’t want it to be his last game. He lost last year here at states and he wanted redemption, that’s for sure.
“…It’s been fun. It’s too bad the next game will be the last for Cameron but hey, go out playing in a state championship game that’s pretty special.”
Evan Crawley—621-5640
ecrawley@mainetoday.com
Twitter: @Evan_Crawley
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