Hermon edges PCHS in overtime Rowe scores from Tarr assist to give Hawks third win of season

HERMON – After playing two overtime games in a row and losing both of them, the Hermon boys soccer team was looking for a spark.

So were the Piscataquis boys, who haven’t won a game this year and have had trouble creating offense at times.

That’s why both teams were pleased with the results of Monday afternoon’s game at the high school field here even if it was Hermon that came away with a 3-2 win in overtime.

The Hawks (3-4) earned their first OT victory this year when Anthony Rowe drilled a pass from Ryan Tarr with 2 minutes and 30 seconds left in the extra period.

“This is huge for us,” Tarr said. “We needed something to boost our confidence and get us back to winning again.”

For the 0-4 Pirates of Guilford, the two goals they scored in the second half showed signs of life for a team with just two seniors and two juniors. Piscataquis rallied to tie the game at 1-1, then scored another goal to take a 2-1 lead with 9:24 left in regulation.

But Hermon tied it again to send the game into overtime. That’s when Rowe and Tarr hooked up for the winner.

“I followed Ryan in and I knew he would give it to me somehow,” Rowe said. “He split two [defenders] and tapped me the ball and I just shot it. I knew it was going in before it went in.”

Piscataquis had a 2-1 lead when Hermon’s Chris Fournier sent the game into overtime when he struck in a shot from the left side of the box with 4:29 left.

Hermon outshot the Pirates 12-4 in the first half but could only capitalize on one of those shots, a direct kick by Joey Carmichael from about 25 yards out that was awarded after a PCHS handball. That’s because the Hawks had trouble getting off direct shots and keeping the ball down.

“We couldn’t find the goal,” Tarr said. “That’s been one of our problems this year.”

Andy Zimmerman tied the game for Piscataquis when he scored off a crossing pass from Ben Webb 13 minutes into the second half.

That seemed to spark the Pirates, who were able to pressure the ball much more and push into the Hawks’ defensive half. Webb finally capitalized with 9:24 left, heading in a cross from Roy Burdin.

“It goes back to our youth. We haven’t scored that many goals this year, so once we scored one, it was emotional,” PCHS coach Bruce Priest said. “We needed it bad. Today is probably the best we’ve played.”

Piscataquis played fine defense at times, especially on some scrambles in front of the goalmouth after Hermon corner kicks. PCHS goalie Ryan Martell (13 saves on 26 shots) battled to chase down rebounds in those scrambles, but the Pirates were able to clear away the most dangerous balls.

Hermon goalie Corey Stanhope stopped five of 11 shots.