FORT FAIRFIELD – The Fort Fairfield boys soccer team had a good season last year, and the Tigers weren’t expecting anything less this year. Indeed, they’re 7-0 after an 8-1 win over Katahdin of Sherman Station Wednesday.

That’s not to say that there haven’t been some changes this year – one big change in particular.

When coach Dan Ayoob resigned to focus on his job, the school appointed co-head coaches to take over. One was Ayoob’s assistant, the other a Fort Fairfield graduate who has been teaching and coaching for several years.

And they’re both women.

The fact that Jeanette Peters and Kelly Bubar have taken over the boys soccer team was a bit of an adjustment for the Tigers. But the school couldn’t have picked two coaches with better backgrounds to handle the change.

Peters has been teaching and coaching at Fort Fairfield for more than 30 years. Bubar, a 1989 Fort Fairfield graduate, has coached all levels of track and field at the school, including the varsity boys, and varsity cheerleading. They both teach health and physical education to boys and girls in grades 6-12.

Peters, who was an assistant coach last year, said when Ayoob left, the boys asked her to come back. She thought about it and agreed to coach. Bubar was asked to come on board.

So far, the coaches haven’t had any problems from the fans, referees, or opposing teams.

“Right now we’re focusing on building the team as strong as we can and nothing else,” Bubar said. “That’s our No. 1 priority. It’s almost like tunnel vision. I haven’t really noticed anything major. … We’ve asked [the boys on the team] to tell us the truth and I don’t think [women coaching] has made any difference whatsoever to them.”

Peters believes her longevity at the school and the wide array of sports she has coached have made her known to the area’s referees.

“I think they know me from softball, coaching soccer last year. I don’t think it’s been a big problem,” Peters said.

The team doesn’t make an issue of it and neither do the coaches although, senior midfielder Eric Tornquist conceded, the boys try to keep the swearing down during practice.

“At first it was like, women coaches, this is a little weird … but as it went on it was pretty smooth,” he said.

Peters and Bubar already had the foundation of a good team when they took over the program. The Tigers went 12-3-2 last year and reached the Eastern Maine Class D semifinals. It’s a good result, but the team wants to do better.

“We’ve all been playing together since we were little and now that we’re seniors, we’re ready to roll and go as far as we can,” said senior defender Aaron Kenneson.

They’ve already taken a big step with a win against perennial powerhouse Van Buren, which is the first time in the seniors’ careers that they can remember beating the Crusaders.

“Last year they beat us twice so this year to come out and beat them was really nice,” said Ben Kilcollins, also a senior defender.

The addition of junior Josh Turner has made a difference for the Tigers. The speedy wing-striker is a Fort Fairfield native but attended a private school for his first two high school years. He’s now a starter and one of the team’s top goal-scorers.

“He’s really fast, probably the fastest on our team,” Tornquist said.

Another key to the Tigers’ season has been the play of goalie Tyler Bernaiche, who apparently won’t let a little accident keep him off the field.

The junior was making macaroni and cheese in a microwave recently when he burned his arm on the boiling water. It hasn’t stopped him from playing, however.

“He had a concussion last year and I had to clip his wings. He wanted to play regardless,” Peters said.

“He loves to play,” Bubar added. “He loves the pressure.”

Bernaiche has given up four goals in the team’s first seven games and has four shutouts.