Defending state Class D soccer champion Katahdin of Sherman Station will take a 4-0-1 record into its home game Friday with a major rival, Schenck of East Millinocket.

The game was originally set for Thursday, but was postponed by rain.

Coach Bob Dyer’s team expects a tough contest with Class C Schenck, but his Cougars “play with a lot of heart and intensity.”

Two starters and two reserves were lost to graduation, but Katahdin returns strong. One obvious obstacle this year is that state Class C champ Van Buren moved down to Class D.

The teams don’t meet during the season, so facing each other in the playoffs is in the back of Dyer’s mind. “But,” he said, “we both have to get that far.”

Three “extra-special” seniors are Kristen Richardson, Lea Craig and Shannon Craig, who “were all starters from day one as freshmen” and are “very coachable and great to work with.”

Fullback Richardson is described as a smart ballplayer who doesn’t make many mistakes. Lea Craig, at center half, is an aggressive player who has developed good passing skills. Dyer uses her as an example when junior high kids complain about running laps around the gym.

“Lea has asthma, but she can run a full 80 minutes,” he said. “She does a great job.”

Shannon Craig can play right or left wing and recently set a school record, scoring a goal in the first 20 seconds of play.

Juniors working for another title include 3-year starter Kelly Stubbs, a top scorer. Stubbs is an Eastern Maine Class D All-Star, and Dyer said she “is probably one of the leading scorers in the state. She’s a natural scorer and an overachiever who gives 150 percent all the time. She had four goals in one game when she had the flu and played only a half.”

Also hoping to make it two straight is Jenny Drew, back at wing/fullback. “Her strong point is coachability,” Dyer said. “She’s learning all the time. I depend on her out there.”

Wing Molly Jilek has an unorthodox style that throws people off. That “style” resulted in an assist in last year’s state championship when Katahdin beat Richmond 1-0 in four overtimes.

Junior Heather Smith, who started as a freshman, but sat out last year with mononucleosis, is back at center fullback. “She’s one of our big, strong girls and very aggressive,” Dyer said.

Then there’s junior wing Lisa Gonya. It took Dyer three years to convince her to play, but she’s starting. “She’s making a few mistakes,” he said, “but I finally got her out, and she’s learning.”

Tammy Greenlaw is the other halfback and is considered a smart player who crosses well. “She makes good cutback moves,” Dyer said, “and is a real thinking ballplayer.”

Although still gaining experience, Eryn Cole is back in goal. “She puts a big effort into it and works hard,” Dyer said. “She hasn’t had too many goals-against and that’s with us not working for shutouts because we sub a lot.”

The final starter is sophomore Jaime Dyer, a busy reserve last yer. “Jaime is very aggressive and acts like a stopper back,” Dyer said of his daughter. “She’s passing really well.”

Substituting is the norm for Katahdin and one who comes in often is Tonya Carr, a senior who’s completing high school in three years. “She has great speed,” Dyer said, “and an instinct for the goal. I use her as my utility player at halfback, center forward, or wing. I wish I had her for another year.”

Sophomores Amanda Robinson and Tracy Albert see lots of action at fullback.

Dyer doesn’t concentrate on individual statistics or goal setting. “What we work really hard at is conditioning and teamwork. What we want to see is that the girls do the best they possibly can and enjoy themselves. If that happens, the rest falls into place.”

Do his Cougars feel the pressure of defending a state title? “Maybe, a little, at the start of the season,” Dyer admitted. “But they aren’t feeling it much now.”