MADISON — Between injuries and the natural grind of everyday games and practices, it’s rare for a team to begin a season as strong as it finishes. Some teams, though, have it tougher than others.

At the end of a trying season last year, a Carrabec girls soccer team that had been dealt its share of blows was down to nine available players. Being well-rested was out of the question, and the Cobras had to go to great lengths just to minimize their disadvantage. 

“We were begging for girls who had never played before just to stand on our field,” Carrabec senior Riley Crocker said. “I had a wicked injury, and I couldn’t even sub out because we were lucky if even seven girls showed up to an eight-on-eight game, and we were playing 11-on-11 at the time.”

Although the numbers game is never easy at small schools, there’s a level of relief this year as eight-player soccer arrives in Maine. Both figuratively and literally, the new format is a breather for programs such as the four that gathered Saturday at Madison Area Memorial High School for a play day.

Carrabec players aren’t shy about the challenges they faced last season. Taking on top Mountain Valley Conference opponents such as Hall-Dale, Monmouth/Winthrop and Mt. Abram, the Cobras were shown no mercy as squads with deep benches used fresh legs to wear out a team looking merely to stay afloat.

“It was painful, especially when people would sub out constantly,” Crocker said. “They definitely didn’t take it easy on us at all. I think the fact that we even had the amount of girls we did have still pushing at the end of the season was really nice and said a lot about our team.”

With the arrival of eight-player soccer, things couldn’t be more different for Carrabec in 2023. Yes, the new format provides a level playing field and an opportunity for rest that weren’t there for the Cobras before, but it also comes as the team has more than doubled in size with 22 players participating this fall.

No longer at a numbers disadvantage, Carrabec players are taking advantage of their newfound room to roam. Fewer opposing defenders means more space for the Cobras to make their runs, and fewer opposing attackers makes it easier for them on the defensive end.

Madison scores on Lisbon keeper Victoria Babbin on Saturday in Madison. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel

“There’s a lot more room on the field,” said Carrabec sophomore Karen Baker. “Last year, we struggled and got a lot more cluttered playing with only the few people we had. We have a lot more understanding this year with how spread out it is. It’s really nice.”

Given that Carrabec was already playing with nine players a year ago, dropping to eight players perhaps isn’t as much of an adjustment for the Cobras as it might be for others. The same could be said for the host of Saturday’s play day, Madison, which also played the bulk of its schedule with nine girls.

Madison, though, did surprisingly well for a short-sided team last year as it went 7-8 and qualified for the Class C South playoffs. Given how successful they were under those circumstances, the Bulldogs like their chances in an environment that puts them on level terms.

“We were very competitive going nine-on-11, so to go eight-on-eight this year, I’m really excited to see where we can go with it,” said Madison senior Alison Griffeth. “I don’t think going to eight is going to be that big of a difference; we’re used to playing with eight or nine girls anyways.”

The Maine Principals’ Association approved the addition of eight-player soccer beginning with the fall 2023 season last September. Madison and Carrabec will play in the South region along with Lisbon, another participant in Saturday’s play day, while the fourth participant, Piscataquis, will play in the North.

Unlike in football, though, teams participating in eight-player soccer aren’t limited to playing other short-sided teams. Crossover matches against 11-player teams are possible with the eight-player team having the choice of which format is used.

That’s a tool that gives eight-player coaches more options. Carrabec, of course, has the numbers to easily field 11 players this season, and Madison, with a roster of 12, could also opt to play 11-a-side on days when the whole squad is available.

“We’ve got Richmond on our schedule this year, and they’re an 11-man team,” said Madison head coach Kayla Carrier. “With 12, we have that opportunity to play 11-on-11 if we want, and if it works out that way for us, I’d love to be able to play a couple 11-sided games.”

It’s a format, then, that’s all about providing versatility for its teams in a day and age that requires more of it than ever — and for teams used to the short-sided game anyway, making that a formality doesn’t change the sport they love playing.

“I’m just thankful we get to play because it was hard going against 11 players only having the players we had,” said Madison senior Kylee Furbush. “Now, we have our eight girls going against eight girls, and it’s a good opportunity.”