PCHS holds off Schenck Frosh Martell has solid debut in goal

GUILFORD – Ryan Martell thought he’d ease into his role as a goalie for the Piscataquis Community High School boys soccer team.

That changed late last week when four PCHS players were suspended for the season for disciplinary reasons, but the freshman responded with 16 saves in his first varsity start as the unbeaten and top-ranked Pirates edged No. 8 Schenck of East Millinocket 2-1 in an Eastern Maine Class C quarterfinal Saturday.

“I was a little nervous just because it was tournament time,” said Martell.

Chase Burdin and Dan Rockwell scored goals to give the Pirates their third win over Schenck this season and send PCHS (14-0-1) to a semifinal Wednesday against Searsport.

“Our freshman goalie did a great job,” said PCHS coach Bruce Priest. “He’s worked hard, and we told him it’s tough to sit on the bench – he started last year as a middle-school student – but we told him to stick it out because you never know when we would have to call on him. That was his role, and he stepped up huge today.”

Four freshmen started for PCHS, including two of the four defenders fronting Martell – twins Jarrod and Jeffery Robinson, who played in the backfield with junior Justin Weymouth and senior Kevin Daggett.

“Our defense came up big,” said Burdin.

Rockwell gave PCHS a 1-0 lead with 23:09 left in the first half with a shot from the left wing beyond the reach of Schenck goalie Chad Nelson (16 saves). Burdin set up the goal with a pass to freshman Mike Wharff, whose shot caromed off a Schenck defender and right to Rockwell.

Schenck (8-6-2) tied the game off a restart 1:37 into the second half when Jason Kimball rebounded a shot by Pat Jamo that Martell tipped off the crossbar.

“We needed to take a lot of shots,” said Schenck coach Frank Clukey, “and we needed to be there when the ball was kicked. That’s how we scored, it went off [Martell’s] body and we put it in.”

The Wolverines had sudden momentum, but Martell slapped away a dangerous shot by Kyle Pelkey and smothered a close-range bid by Kerry Thompson over the next few minutes.

“I was feeling better because I wasn’t so nervous and I knew my defense was there to back me up,” Martell said.

PCHS scored the game-winner with 29:35 left, as Burdin took a pass from Joe Jardine and scored on a sharp-angled shot from the right wing.

“I pretty much just tried to put it on goal, and had a little luck,” said Burdin.

PCHS’s depth was further tested in the final 10 minutes. Rockwell was dazed by a collision with Schenck’s Brian Graham with 8:09 to play, and 11 seconds later Ryan Bush left with an ankle injury. And with 4:23 left, Jardine drew a yellow card and had to sit down.

“To be honest, I’ve been very fortunate all year to have 21 strong guys on this team,” said Priest. “Even at that point I wasn’t really nervous.”