Resilient Rams rally, tie ‘Cats

BANGOR – If there was any harvest break rust on Presque Isle’s girls soccer team, it hardly showed on a bright, balmy Tuesday as they peppered the Bangor goal early and often.

Despite a huge shot advantage, the visiting Wildcats had to settle for a tie as Bangor’s resilient Rams shook off a slow start, got better as the game wore on, and answered PI’s scores each time as they battled to a 2-2 double-overtime deadlock at Bangor High School.

“It’s hard to score first and give up the lead like that. It’s tough during harvest break,” said coach Ralph Michaud, whose ‘Cats are now 8-2-2. “I always say that we’re in harvest shape because they probably stay up too late, watch too much TV, and sleep in. It’s tough to stay in game shape.”

The Wildcats appeared to be in great shape as they outshot Bangor 6-3 in the first half and 15-7 overall in regulation, but each time they broke through the force field the Rams seemingly had around their net, Bangor had a quick response.

“We felt real fortunate because I didn’t think we even started to play for 30 minutes. Seemed like we all had on two left feet,” said Rams coach Jeff Ingalls.

Kelly McHatten put the Wildcats on the board five minutes and 34 seconds into the second half as she headed a deflection back at the goal and just under the crossbar on the left after Sarah Belden nearly kicked it in from the right corner.

Just 44 seconds later, Bangor tied it as sophomore forward Kristin Bogan took a pass from Laura Clarke on the left side and blasted it into the net from 12 feet outside the goal on a bang-bang play.

Presque Isle retook the lead on a Marigan Bishop goal with 17:52 left in regulation. Bishop took a pass from midfielder Bailey Hovey near midfield and scored on a breakaway with a left-center shot on net.

The Wildcats seemed to have the game in hand as they kept most of the action in Bangor territory, but with 9:49 to play, Amanda Goldsmith scored off a nifty corner kick by Jenn Towne. Towne flared a cross right in front of the goal, Goldsmith wrested the loose ball away, and blasted it into the net.

Presque Isle had two shots in the last nine minutes, but didn’t score. Bangor had the only shot in overtime as Danielle Thompson’s shot from the far left was stopped by Melissa Demerchant (three saves on five shots) in the second overtime. Starting goalie Jessica Price saved two of three shots in the first half. Katherine Miller saved 11 of 15 shots for the 6-3-1 Rams.