Warriors can’t catch Rams Bangor’s speed, balanced attack are too much for Nokomis

BANGOR – Don’t congratulate Bangor girls soccer coach Jeff Ingalls on another easy victory Monday afternoon, he’ll probably tell you it was anything but.

The second-ranked Bangor girls fought off a stubborn Nokomis of Newport team for a 4-2 soccer victory here at Union Street Field.

Never mind that Nokomis was winless and ranked 17th in the latest Eastern Maine Class A standings, the youthful Warriors played like veterans and stayed within a goal of Bangor almost the entire 80 minutes.

“I’ll tell you what, Nokomis deserves better,” said Ingalls. “They played very, very well today. They did not look like a winless team.”

Unfortunately for Nokomis, the Ram girls had too many weapons – the most dangerous of which was forward Sarah Parcak.

Parcak had the first hat trick of her high school career Monday. The speedy sophomore scored two goals unassisted on breakaways.

“We try to utilize her speed. She has great speed,” said Ingalls. “So if she can get down there in front (of the goal), we’ve got a chance.”

“Speed plays a big part… and playing with no fear,” Parcak said.

Parcak opened the scoring with nine minutes, 29 seconds gone in the first period after taking a loose ball, streaking down the left side of the field ahead of two defenders, and blasting the ball into the net past the goaltender’s hands.

The 0-5-1 Warriors struck back quickly as junior Kate Burgess drilled a rebounded shot from teammate Penny Stevens back into the left side of Bangor’s net 13:07 into the game.

Senior forward Jill Partridge put Bangor up 2-1 with 14:36 to go in the half on another breakaway play.

Partridge got a loose ball at midfield and broke for the goal on a dead run, leaving at least three defenders in her wake. Her shot on a dead run from 13 feet away went past the diving Nokomis goaltender into the back of the net.

Parcak gave Bangor a two-goal cushion 10 minutes into the second half on a bizarre shot from the left side that deflected off Nokomis defender Cristy Shawley into the left corner of the net.

After Nokomis’ Melissa Coppa took a pass from Kelly Bowman, caught the Bangor goalie on the left side of the goal, and scored with a quick shot to the right with 14:31 left in the game, Nokomis regained momentum.

But Parcak dampened Nokomis’ comeback hopes with a goal 2 1/2 minutes later. Parcak’s initial shot off a Partridge pass in front of the goal was blocked but Parcak got the rebound and kicked it in.

“Their speed and a couple of letdowns by us made the difference, but our kids kept playing good soccer and came back,” said Nokomis coach Bill Freudenberger.

For 5-2 Bangor, goalie Rebecca Kinney saved eight of 12 Nokomis shots.

Sophomore goaltender Monica Kus made nine saves on 16 shots for the Warriors.