Veteran Broncos blank Old Town Earley, Uhrin score goals while Silver registers shutout for Hampden

HAMPDEN – The Old Town Indians can relate to where the Hampden Academy boys soccer team is right now.

They were there themselves just a year ago – considered one of the elite teams in Eastern Maine Class A.

But while Old Town graduated 11 seniors from a 2003 squad that was ranked fourth in the region, Hampden Academy returns a balanced, veteran squad with plenty of motivation after being ousted in last year’s preliminary round.

All of those qualities were in evidence Tuesday as Hampden used second-half goals by Martin Earley and Jay Uhrin to defeat the Indians 2-0.

Hampden is now 2-0, while Old Town is 0-1.

“This team has been together for a couple of years and we’ve got quite a few seniors,” said Broncos senior captain Billy Shannon. “It’s our last year, so we’re giving everything we have.”

Andre Cushing set up Earley’s goal with a nice chip pass to the edge of the penalty area, and Earley converted to give the Broncos a 1-0 lead 2:04 into the second half. Uhrin’s goal came seven minutes later, as he took a pass from Shannon and beat Old Town goalie Dustin Marley with a low shot inside the far goalpost.

“We played pretty well,” said Shannon. “The first half wasn’t as good as it should have been. We kind of played their game, a little chip and run, but in the second half we came out and played our own game, played the short ball and spread the field wide, and when we had opportunities we took them and got a couple of goals.”

Hampden outshot Old Town 17-7, with junior goalie Max Silver making three saves to earn his first career shutout. Marley, also a junior, made five stops for Old Town.

“We played Hampden in a preseason contest in Waterville and knew they had a lot of talent and a lot of exceptional outside speed and midfield play,” said Old Town coach Mark Graffam. “We just wanted to hold them tight in the first half and play for the wind, and unfortunately it worked against us.

“In the second half they played some real smart short passes and capitalized on a couple little breakdowns on the defensive side of the ball,” Graffam added.

The Broncos won despite being shorthanded, as starting center-midfielders Peter Alexander (high ankle sprain) and Nattapong Kongsuriya (knee) were sidelined.

“The other guys just had to step up and play a good game,” said Hampden coach Ryan Shaw. “All of these games are crucial for Heal Points, so the guys stood up and did what they needed to do.”

JV: Hampden 19-1