Vikes, Shires in EM finals Cousins powers Caribou; Houlton wins in PKs

The Houlton and Caribou girls soccer teams each advanced to an Eastern Maine final Tuesday after winning their respective semifinal.

The regional finals are set for Saturday at the home field of the higher seed.

Caribou, which is the No. 4 team in Eastern Maine Class B, knocked off No. 1 Presque Isle 2-1. The 11-5 Vikings await the winner of a semifinal between No. 3 Winslow and No. 1 Belfast, which was postponed Tuesday because of poor field conditions. That game will either be played Wednesday or Thursday.

No. 2 Houlton, now 11-4-1, beat No. 6 Madawaska 1-0 after a round of penalty kicks to advance to the Eastern Maine Class C final. Houlton will face No. 8 Penobscot Valley of Howland, which upset No. 4 George Stevens of Blue 2-0.

Shelby Cousins scored both goals for Caribou. Her first goal came five minutes into the first half and was assisted by Lindsey Burlock. The second broke a short-lived tie early in the second half with the assist by Michelle Ouellette. Billie Martin made 11 saves on 18 shots for the Vikings.

Nicole James scored with about a minute left in the first half to tie the game for Presque Isle with an assist from Kylan Smith. Melissa Demerchant saved five of nine shots for the 13-2-1 Wilcats.

The Shiretowners came back to win the game on penalty kicks after the Owls dominated play in the first half.

After two 40-minute halves and four, 10-minute overtime periods, Houlton goalie Anna Lenentine and Madawaska goalie Elizabeth Laplante were still perfect as Lenentine had nine saves and Laplante had 11.

In the first-round of penalty kicks, Houlton’s Danielle Sewell, Amie McPartland and Claire Thompson each converted penalty kicks while Madawaska missed its first three to give the Shiretowners the victory.

Madawaska outshot Houlton 11-9.