Mt. Blue’s KK Daggett (20) battles for the ball with Mt. Ararat’s Islah Godo during a girls soccer game earlier this season in Farmington. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel
A state finalist, a record-setting goal scorer and a coaching milestone were among the top stories in central Maine girls soccer in 2022.
Maranacook (16-1-1), which won its first state title in program history last year, reported as Class C champs but fell just short of a repeat with a 2-1 loss to Bucksport in the Class C final.
Maranacook girls soccer players celebrate with Addie Watson, center back, after she scored to give her team a 2-1 lead over Old Orchard Beach during a Class C South semifinal game earlier this season at Kents Hill School. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal
Addie Watson, Lily Caban and Sophia Tweedie — all part of a senior class what went 52-5-6 over four seasons — were named Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference all-stars, while Watson and coach Travis Magnusson were named player and coach of the year, respectively.
“It’s going to hurt for a week, but when they look back, they’ll realize how spoiled and how good they’ve been,” Magnusson said after the loss to Bucksport. “Hopefully, they realize that and know how much we love them. They’ve changed our program.”
Watson, junior Natalie Mohlar and freshman Phoebe Bell each passed the 20-goal mark.
Richmond (12-5-0) enjoyed its 13th consecutive winning season, which culminated with a trip to the Class D South final, where it lost to eventual champ North Yarmouth Academy. Coach Troy Kendrick, in his 33rd year guiding the Bobcats, collected his 400th victory Oct. 7 in a 10-0 win over Vinalhaven.
While Richmond had a smaller roster than usual (about 18 players), Kendrick got the most from his athletes.
“I was pleased with what we were able to accomplish,” said Kendirck, who singled out his backfield of Cara Briand, Peyton Cray, Emma Valley and Stephanie Balduf, along with defender-turned-midfielder Lorelei Zoulamis and keeper Autumn Lane, a first-year starter. “A small group of players, but just an outstanding group of young ladies to work with. They were kids you can count on day and day out.”
Richmond girls soccer coach Troy Kendrick high-fives the Bobcat players after time ran out at end of his 400th win earlier this season at Richmond Middle/High School. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal
Mt. Blue, meanwhile, counted on striker KK Daggett to score early and often, and she responded with school records of 25 goals and 58 points as the Cougars went 12-3-1 and reached the Class A North semifinals. Daggett scored at least two goals in each of her team’s first 11 games, Mt. Blue coach Griffin Conlogue said, as the Cougars burst out to a 10-0 start. After nursing a late-season injury, Daggett came back with two more goals in a 3-0 quarterfinal win over Brewer.
“She had a crazy great season,” said Conlogue, who was named KVAC Class A coach of the year. “I really felt bad for her because we didn’t get to have a sophomore season (2020) for her due to COVID, and our school decided not to have people participate. I think if we had been allowed to have a season, she probably could have set the all-time scoring record, as well. She finished 10 points short.”
But Mt. Blue was more than the Daggett show, as teammates Meren Zeliger and keeper Caitlin Burke were named KVAC all-stars and Emma Dunn was named all-region. Burke, a senior, played every game all three years in high school (there was no 2020 season) and set the school record for fewest goals allowed over game, according to Conlogue. The Cougars outscored their foes, 58-8. Zeliger, a defensive midfielder, dished out eight assists while making sure few balls got near Burke.
“For my money, she’s probably the best defender in our league and one of the most creative players, as well,” Conlogue said. “She kinda holds the whole team together and was the centrifuge of our success.”
Elsewhere in central Maine:
Hall-Dale and MCI stormed through undefeated regular seasons before falling in the Class C playoffs. Hall-Dale’s offense scored 103 goals in 15 games, with Marie Benoit collecting hat tricks in wins over Buckfield, Carrabec and Monmouth/Winthrop. Aubrey Gilbert backstopped a defense that allowed only two goals all season.
MCI’s Olivia Varney was named KVAC B North player of the year, while Dale Overlock was named the league’s top coach. The Huskies’ Emma Burr and Heather Nelson also earned all-star berths.
Monmouth/Winthrop went 11-4 and reached the Class C South quarterfinals. Riley Smith, Izzy Hamann and Elsa Goebel-Bain were among the team’s offensive leaders, with the latter two notching hat tricks in a regular season-ending 11-0 win over Carrabec.
In Class B, Waterville (10-4-1) reached the quarterfinals as Mara Von Oesen and Sadie Williams were named KVAC B North all-stars. Isabella Fleury and Kyri Meak earned KVAC B North all-star nods for Winslow, as did Nokomis’ Hope Brooks. Gardiner’s Taylor Takatsu was named a KVAC B South all-star along with Erskine’s Sophia Pilotte and Gabby Sasse.
In Class A, Skowhegan’s Annabelle Morris snagged a KVAC second-team berth.
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