Southern Aroostook cruises to 5-0 start

DYER BROOK – Jon Porter was a little surprised when some of the players on his Southern Aroostook boys soccer team came to him last spring with a few unusual requests.

They were asking for more practice – an indoor league over the summer, games against other teams, an earlier start to practices, and even double sessions.

Porter told his guys to take it easy and play on their own if they wanted. But the seven-year coach liked their initiative.

“I heard some things during the spring and summer I had never heard before,” Porter said. “… I held them off as long as I could and they came out for practice hungry, ready to play, and everything’s just gone from there.”

The Warriors’ eagerness to play has shown up early. Southern Aroostook is 5-0 after beating Lee Academy 3-1 Tuesday afternoon. Southern Aroostook beat the Pandas 4-1 earlier this season for the first time in several years, Porter said.

It may be too soon to tell how the Warriors will finish in October, but the undefeated record has the team excited. In previous years, Southern Aroostook has struggled early in the season because the school doesn’t take a break for the potato harvest.

Students started here last week, whereas most schools in Aroostook County start soccer practice in early August and already have several games under their belts when the Warriors get on the field.

Numbers have been a problem in the past, too. Some years Porter has 11 players, exactly enough for a team. Other years he’s had as few as seven, putting the Warriors at an automatic disadvantage.

This season, 14 players came out for the first day of practice, and the team has added two since then.

“We’ve got more intensity and we’ve picked up some really good freshmen,” said Kevin Dubois, a four-year starter at sweeper and one of three seniors on the team. “We’re getting along really well. Over the years we’ve never really communicated as much as we are now.”

Besides the mental aspect, the Warriors have made some on-field stylistic changes, shored up their defense and have had younger players make an immediate impact.

Offensively, senior striker Corey Edkins leads the team with seven goals, including five in two games last week. The team has also gone to a different type of game that helps move the ball more effectively.

“We used to kick and run,” said Jarred Grant, a senior center halfback. “Now we do a lot of short passes.”

Southern Aroostook has just three seniors. The team is mostly sophomores, with three freshmen in starting roles. Travis Brooker, a freshman halfback-wing, and sophomore wing Tommy St. Pierre are among the players who have been impressive so far.

“We’re hoping they learn from us and get better as the years go on,” Edkins said.

Another youngster in a starting role is sophomore goalkeeper Jeff Boutilier, who was a part-time goalie last year. He has allowed five goals so far.

“I’ve been most pleasantly surprised with our defense,” Porter said. “I thought we could score some goals this year but defensively we’ve been pretty solid. You’ve got to attribute that to Jeff in goal and our defensive backs. That’s been a big difference in us starting like this.”