Jeffrey powers resurgent Rams by Old Town for fourth win

BANGOR – Last week’s shutout loss to rival Hampden didn’t exactly sit well with the Bangor boys soccer team.

So the Rams poured on the offense and tightened up the defense in a matchup against Old Town Saturday at the high school field.

Ryan Jeffrey led Bangor with two goals, including the eventual game-winner, as the Rams downed the Indians 4-1.

The win should provide a lift and prove point-worthy for the 4-1 Rams. Old Town falls to 4-2 after opening with four straight wins, but after the game Bangor coach Adam Leach told his team the Indians are sure to post more victories this year.

“The Hampden game was a setback for all of us,” Jeffrey said. “But we came out [Saturday], we were motivated and we came back.”

Bangor defenders Nat Weeks, Tyler Sing, Andy Mahoney and Tim Woodcock held Old Town to a first-half goal that came on a penalty kick.

“We kept up with [Old Town forward Andy Pease] pretty well and we did a good job of containing him,” Weeks said. “Tyler Sing did a great job in the first half. He really shut [Pease] down. We didn’t give him time to do anything and really took away his space.”

Old Town’s Tim Niles converted the PK, which tied the game at 1-1 with 20:47 left.

About seven minutes later, Bangor’s Jeremy Kenney headed the ball to Jeffrey’s feet. Jeffrey settled the ball and shot it into the net to make it 2-1.

Later in the first half, Mike Larochelle scored on a crossing pass from Nate Goodell to give the Rams a two-goal lead. Omar Conteh added a second-half goal off a pass from Bret Mitchell.

“We just found the holes in their defense,” Jeffrey said. “We had some really good passes, some through-balls, good target work. It worked out great for us.”

The Indians had plenty of chances with strikers Kevin Emerson and Pease firing away, but had trouble finishing shots. Pease had an opportunity in the second half with a direct kick a few feet from the right post, but his shot went over the crossbar.

“This is the second game where we’re not catching some breaks offensively,” Old Town coach Mark Graffam said. “It’s frustrating for the kids. … I was pleased with some of the players. We had another player score today and that’s the eighth player [to score] this year. That’s a good sign for us.”

Jeffrey scored his first goal, which came off a Woodcock assist, shortly after he returned from a Leach-imposed timeout. The senior striker was a bit frustrated with a foul called on him.

“[Leach] wanted me to refocus,” Jeffrey said. “… It always helps to sit out, focus, and go back in and work hard.”

Bangor goalie Payson Nichols stopped nine of 15 shots and Josh Heath made three saves on three shots in the final 11 minutes. Old Town’s Tyler Tracewski made six saves on 18 shots.