ROCKPORT – After the Windjammers scored two goals in their final three regular-season games, Camden Hills boys soccer coach Donald Palmer implored his team to jump-start its offense for the playoffs.
Palmer, who is in his 34th season, liked what he saw in Tuesday afternoon’s Eastern Maine Class B preliminary game against Foxcroft Academy.
The No. 7 Windjammers scoring three goals in the first five minutes and two more in the first half en route to an 8-2 victory over the No. 10 Ponies at the high school field.
Camden Hills, now 9-5-1, will face No. 2 Ellsworth Friday in a quarterfinal game.
Foxcroft finished its season at 5-10.
Senior forward Adam Stearns led the way with three goals. He was credited with the first goal of the game, which actually went in off the Foxcroft goalie’s hands.
Stearns scored again after Gabe Gates pushed in a Massey corner kick, making it 3-0 just 4:54 into the game.
Foxcroft responded 12 seconds later when Manuel Blanc booted a ball into the right corner of the net to make it 3-1. But Camden Hills’ Andrew Carter scored with 16:50 left in the first half to give the ‘Jammers another three-goal cushion.
Camden Hills, which scored on five of its nine first-half shots, also got goals from Evan Dyer and Barry Beveridge.
“Finally, we’re starting to see a lot of openings on the field we weren’t seeing before,” Stearns said. “It seems like it’s starting to come together.”
Not only did the strong finishes make the difference, but the Windjammers’ back-passes – passes back to the defense in order to set up the offense – were keeping Camden Hills on offense and the Foxcroft defense on its heels.
“We were missing the balls and they were getting all the chances,” said Foxcroft coach Luis Ayala. “Our defense just fell asleep. There were too many guys standing and watching. Second half they picked it up.”
The Windjammers had stopper Caleb Peats matched up against Blanc, who has been the Ponies’ top scorer.
“Caleb shadowed [Blanc] for the whole game and did a great job of keeping him out of it,” Camden Hills sweeper Zach Marchetti said.
Foxcroft’s Mitch Sawyer knocked a corner kick off the right post and into the goal late in the second half.
Julius Patay and Kevin Brown combined for two saves on 13 shots for the Ponies.
Camden Hills’ Morgan Kerr finished with eight saves on 14 shots.
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