Mingled with the sounds of a high school girls soccer team in the middle of a practice – getting instructions from a coach, shouting encouragement to each other – are the sounds of construction.

While the Penobscot Valley girls run through warm-up drills, the school behind them is undergoing renovation. The problems in the school – the faulty roof, the state’s decision to not pay for a new building because of declining enrollment, the SAD 31 board voting to put its superintendent on administrative leave – have been well-documented lately.

But for the girls soccer team here, there’s still a lot of pride. The Howlers are 10-2 and are poised for another successful run in the Eastern Maine Class C playoffs, which start Oct. 20.

It’s been an upsetting year with all the negative news about the school, the girls said. They’ve learned to leave the negative issues inside the school and focus on soccer once school is out for the day.

“I think everyone out here knows that what happens in the school stays in the school,” senior Tiffany Brown said. “You get it out of your head and leave it all aside.”

“We’re really proud of the team but I know it’s affected a lot of the girls,” said senior Randy Rackley, who has 11 goals as a starting center halfback. “We definitely use it as way to push ourselves.”

An even bigger push this year has been the Howlers’ drive to the playoffs. PVHS was ranked second in last week’s Heal Point standings but that’s actually an unfamiliar position for the Howlers. They’re more familiar with playing as a postseason underdog.

Two years ago No. 5 Penobscot Valley knocked off No. 4 Narraguagus. In 2003, No. 8 PVHS upset No. 1 Searsport, the defending Class C state champ, in the quarterfinal round.

The Howlers then beat No. 4 GSA to get to the Eastern Maine final, where the run ended with an overtime loss to Houlton.

“Losing to Houlton last year is more of a push for us to win this year,” Brown said. “We know what it feels like to lose in a close game. We’re ready.”

The Howlers’ two losses this season have come against undefeated Lee, the defending Class D state champion. Lee won the first game 6-1 – Penobscot Valley was the first team to score on the Pandas this season – and earned a 4-2 win last week. Only Bangor Christian has scored more than one goal on the Pandas.

But the Penobscot Valley girls don’t have to worry about Lee anymore. After today’s game against Dexter and Thursday’s regular-season finale against George Stevens of Blue Hill, the Howlers will await their quarterfinal opponent.

If the Howlers are to advance further this year, they’ll do it with a relatively youthful team. Wings Kacy Foster (six goals) and Brown (seven goals) are seniors, as is Rackley, but the rest of the starters are sophomores or juniors, including junior striker Ashley Dawson, who leads the team with 15 goals.

“We have good scoring from a lot of different people,” coach Richard Lindsay said.

Although Penobscot Valley has most of its experience on its front line, the Howlers say defense has been the key this year.

Sophomore sweepers Kacey Plourde and Michelle Bowers start in back with sophomore Jamie Milton and junior Amanda Hallett. Junior Jenn Plourde is in her third season as the starting goalie.

“They’ve been there for us all season,” Foster said. “They save us in every game.”

Stephenson still recovering

Hampden Academy soccer and basketball standout Kim Stephenson is in rehab for her injured knee and it’s still unknown whether she’ll be able to play at all this school year.

Stephenson tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee during a soccer game against Old Town earlier this season. She recently had surgery.

Stephenson had 18 goals and 19 assists last season and finished her career with 46 & 48.

She tries to attend practices when they don’t conflict with her rehab sessions and Hampden coach Dewey Martin said she’s still an asset even if she can’t play. Stephenson helps give pointers to her teammates.

“[Having Stephenson on the bench] is a good influence on the girls,” he said.

The Broncos are also without starting center fullback Amy Dumont, who is injured.

Jessica Bloch can be reached at 990-8193, 1-800-310-8600 or jbloch@bangordailynews.net.