Former rivals Levy, Groshon spark UMF success

They were archrivals in high school.

But Hampden Academy graduate Justin Groshon and Bangor High School’s Miles Levy are now junior teammates at the University of Maine-Farmington and they have been two of the keys to the soccer team’s 12-4-1 season and top seeding for the NAIA Region 10 Tournament in Farmington on Friday and Saturday.

UMF, the Sunrise Conference Tournament champion, will face No. 4 Green Mountain College (Vt.) on Friday at 11 a.m. followed by the game between No. 2 Goldey-Beacom (Del.) and the No. 3 University of Maine-Fort Kent at 1:30.

Saturday’s title game will be at noon.

Groshon was moved from center half to sweeper midway through the season by first-year coach Jamie Beaudoin. Levy has been a starter at marking back all year.

They have helped fortify a Beaver defense that has posted 10 shutouts despite graduating three four-year starters in the back.

“Justin has done a real nice job and there aren’t too many marking backs better than Miles and [sophomore] Chris Vigezzi,” said Beaudoin.

The other starter in the back is South Portland stopper Pat Dugas, a converted striker.

Groshon said he and Levy developed a beneficial familiarity with each other’s playing style “because we competed against each other in intense situations in high school.

“It has worked out real well,” added Groshon who, like Levy, was named an All-Sunrise Conference second team selection.

Levy moved to Bangor from Arizona his junior year “and I didn’t know much about the rivalry. Then I found out Bangor and Hampden guys hate each other. But I’ve learned that Hampden guys are pretty good guys.”

Groshon said his positional move has been smooth.

“To tell the truth, I played in the back on my summer league team so I learned the position a little bit,” said Groshon. “It came naturally, primarily from having played a lot of soccer.

“But I can’t take much credit. You couldn’t ask for anyone better than the three other guys I play with in the back,” said Groshon. “Ten shutouts is more than we could have asked for. And we have a great goalie [Ryan Hersey].”

“We had to get used to each other at first and Justin and Pat had to get used to playing in the back,” said Levy who added that the four of them have developed a “unifying quality.

“We think, move and breathe together as one,” said Levy, who didn’t begin playing organized soccer until he came to Bangor.

“All of our guys in the back are very athletic and smart,” said Orono native Beaudoin. “And our team takes real pride in getting everyone behind the ball on defense and attacking with numbers when we get the ball.”

Goalie Hersey of Farmington has an 0.76 goals-against average.

Pacing the balanced attack are Sunrise Conference Player of the Year David Sithole (8 goals, 3 assists) and fellow striker Shuji Fukami (6 & 6) along with midfielders Brian Mawhinney (5 & 4) of Farmington and Todd Chamberlain (4 & 4) of Auburn.