The Dexter Regional High School boys soccer team gave no particular signs of championship stature a year ago, compiling a 3-9-2 record in 2002.

But as the pieces of this year’s soccer puzzle began to assemble, last year’s frustrations gave way to ambitious aspirations.

“Starting in the preseason this was one of our goals, to win Eastern Maine,” said Tigers’ senior captain Mike Martin on Saturday after Dexter edged top-seeded Piscataquis Community High School of Guilford 3-2 to win the program’s first regional crown. “From there we just came out and worked hard and got the job done.”

Dexter (13-3-1) plays Western Maine champion Georges Valley of Thomaston (16-1) for the state Class C title at 10 a.m. Saturday in Hampden.

The Tigers returned a solid contingent of players from last year’s team, among them goalie Sam Bowers and forward Ben Lemieux.

But Dexter also got an influx of new personnel. Jeremy Kenney, who played for the Tigers in 2001, returned after spending last fall at Bangor High School. Brandon Woodman, who played football at Dexter as a freshman last year, joined the soccer team as a sophomore.

And Woodman’s brother, Aaron, was one of several freshmen who added talent and depth to the squad.

“Jeremy was back and Brandon decided to play soccer, and that helped,” said Lemieux, who scored twice within 38 seconds late in the first half of the Eastern C final as Dexter rallied from a 2-0 deficit. “We had a lot of heart, and a lot of seniors who wanted to put a banner on the wall. We decided it was time.”

Despite that optimism, Dexter lost early in the season to Searsport – a team that eventually reached the regional semifinals before losing to PCHS.

“After we dropped our home opener, we won two or three in a row, and I realized then that this could really happen,” said second-year Dexter coach Paul Shaw. “I remember talking to my assistant coach and saying they’re coming together, they’re playing well, we?ve just got to keep from self-destructing and stay together as a team and we could win this. I guess we did.”

Dexter’s only other losses were to PCHS, which went undefeated until falling to the Tigers last Saturday. But even those defeats, to a PCHS program that won Eastern C titles in 2000 and 2001, boosted the Tigers’ confidence.

“Both games against Guilford helped,” said Tigers’ senior Brian Kelso.

Dexter finished the regular season seeded third in Eastern C, then ousted No. 6 Madawaska and No. 2 Washington Academy of East Machias to reach the Eastern Maine final.

And now it’s on to the states.

“We’ve gotten great leadership from the seniors, and the freshmen who’ve played have stepped up,” said Shaw. “We’re really like a family. It’s been an easy team to coach. The attitudes are great, It’s awesome.”

Tigers seek twin titles

When Dexter plays Georges Valley of Thomaston Saturday, two Tigers will be competing for their second state within a month.

Senior Brett Towle and freshman Quinn Dillon were members of the Dexter golf team that won its third straight state Class C championship on Oct. 11 at Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro.

“It’s definitely a different feeling,” said Towle. “Golf is more of an individual sport, and in soccer you work with the team all the time. They’re both great, but they’re two totally different things.”

Expectations also have been different for the two programs. The Dexter golf team annually ranks among the best in the small-school ranks, while the soccer team had never won a regional championship until now.

“We had all the pressure on us in golf,” said Towle, who shot an 83 at the state golf championship meet. “Here it was different. We came in and [PCHS] was the team that was undefeated, and we really had nothing to lose.”

Making the soccer success all the more satisfying was the fact Dexter rallied from a two-goal deficit with three goals during a 72-second span late in the first half.

“Nobody really expected us to win,” Towle said. “But after we got down 2-0 and had our backs to the wall, we turned it around. Bam! Bam! Bam! and it was 3-2 going into halftime and we didn’t look back from there.

“That minute was like, Holy cow, It was crazy.”

Scott, Cimbollek clinic speakers

Harbor House and the Pemetic Sports Boosters will host a basketball coaches clinic at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, at the Pemetic Gymnasium in Southwest Harbor.

Featured speakers are former Ellsworth coach Jack Scott, former Bangor, John Bapst and Orono coach Bob Cimbollek and current Mount Desert Island coach Wilton Jones.

The topic of the night is “Talking basketball and how to teach it?”

Cost of the event is $2 at the front door to pay travel expenses for the coaches. Any proceeds will be split between the Pemetic Sports Boosters and Harbor House youth basketball.

For more information, call Scott Phelps at Harbor House, 244-3713, Ext. 104.

Ernie Clark may be reached at 990-8045, 1-800-310-8600 or eclark@bangordailynews.net