The Class A Hampden and Class D Lee girls soccer teams have a lot in common. Both squads feature well-rounded offenses, dominating sweepers and fullbacks, and both the Broncos and Pandas are 17-0 and set to play in an Eastern Maine final Saturday.

And both teams have had a key addition this year: a freshman at the center midfielder position, one of the most critical spots on the field.

For Hampden, it’s Kim Stephenson. For Lee, Shelby Pickering does the job. Both have had an immediate impact on their respective teams this season by creating chances and setting up shots, which has allowed the forwards to concentrate on scoring.

Pickering’s presence has meant a lot to Lee’s front line. In Friday’s regional crossover semifinal against Bangor Christian, Deidra Ham piled on four goals, three of which came on Pickering assists.

Pickering’s first varsity game was the Pandas’ Aug. 28 season-opener against Southern Aroostook of Dyer Brook. She started as a wing player and scored twice in that game.

“Shelby’s been very dominant in the middle, which means [opposing teams] have to key on Shelby and that opens things up for me and Shelby can create a lot for me,” Ham said after Friday’s 8-1 win. “Same thing with Jenny [Stevens], Ashley [Gifford], Melissa [DeMerchant]. They’ve been able to create a lot more.”

Stephenson has been putting up impressive numbers this year, including 14 goals and a team-high 13 assists. She also has four game-winning goals, which ties her with senior forward Katie Lindemann.

“The center midfielders [Stevenson and Emily O’Connell] are really great getting the ball out to the wings,” forward Erin Campbell said after Saturday’s 1-0 overtime win against Oxford Hill of South Paris. “They do a really good job of getting us the ball. And we get great corners from Kim so we get great, great opportunities.”

Oxford Hills coach Kyle Morey said even before Saturday’s crossover semifinal his Vikings had an eye out for Stephenson and knew they had to mark her closely.

“Stephenson is a great player, probably one of the top 10 or 15 in the state,” Morey said.

Pickering and Stephenson will certainly be called upon this weekend as both Lee and Hampden will face big challenges in Saturday’s Eastern Maine finals.

Lee is set to play perennial EM power Van Buren (13-4). The Crusaders are the three-time defending regional champions.

“I think it’s going to be a very tough match between the two,” said Bangor Christian coach Heather Guerrette. “If Lee plays the way they did [Friday], they have the ability to win. But Van Buren is a very tough team.”

Hampden will face 16-1 Mount Ararat of Topsham. The Eagles got past Waterville and star striker Christine Serdjenian Saturday.

Morey, whose Vikings lost to Mount Ararat in the regular season, thinks the Broncos have the talent to get to the state final.

“[Hampden is] a quality team. Ararat has a very, very potent attack,” he said. “It could be Hampden’s game, it could be anybody’s game. But Hampden has an excellent shot.”

GSA squads cheer on each other

Eastern Maine soccer fans are used to seeing both the Van Buren boys and girls teams playing in the Class D regional finals, as the Crusaders will do again this year.

Last season both Greenville squads made it to the Class D EM final. Madawaska has had both its boys and girls playing in the Class C title games.

It’s happening for the first time for Class C George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill, whose boys and girls squads will play Saturday for berths in the state championship games.

“The teams are very excited,” said GSA athletic director Jim Murphy. “They’re looking forward to the games and hoping they’ll have another week of practice after that. They’re really happy for each other.”

Murphy said the school’s baseball and softball teams may have both played in title games at the same time, but it hasn’t happened in soccer until this year.

The girls will travel to Penquis of Milo for their regional final and the boys will head to Piscataquis of Guilford.

The GSA girls had the No. 4 seed in the Southeastern region and upset the Northeastern No. 1, Madawaska, to make the EM final as a for the second straight year. Last season the Eagles were ranked No. 11 and knocked off seeds 14, six, three, two and one before losing to Western Maine champ North Yarmouth in the state final.

GSA’s top-ranked boys team has had more success over the years, with state championship appearances in 1995 and 1996

Winter clinic dates set

The MPA has released the dates for mandatory winter sports clinics.

Basketball clinics will be held Nov. 7, 5 p.m. at Machias High School; Nov. 8, 5 p.m. at Northern Maine Technical College in Presque Isle; Nov. 12, 6:15 p.m. at Gorham High; Nov. 13, 6 p.m. at Lawrence High in Fairfield; and Nov. 14, 6:15 p.m. at Brewer High.

Do not go to a clinic site outside of your area prior to contacting the Commission office (296-2475) to confirm the date, time, and site.

Cheerleading clinics will take place Nov. 4 at Cony High in Augusta at 10 a.m. and on Nov. 11 at Brewer and Houlton high schools, both at 10 a.m.

The gymnastics clinic will be held Nov. 18 at Andy Valley Gymnastics in Lewiston at 11 a.m.

The ice hockey clinic will take place Oct. 21 at Waterville High at 10 a.m.

Wrestling clinics are scheduled for Nov. 7 at Massabesic High in Waterboro at 10 a.m.; Nov. 11 at Caribou High at 10 a.m.; and Nov. 14 at Winslow High at 7 p.m.

Jessica Bloch’s High School Report is published Tuesdays. She can be reached at 990-8193, 1-800-310-8600 or jbloch@bangordailynews.net.