Van Buren marches into state title game

Eight teams, four games, four trophies… Win or lose, it’s the end of the soccer season for everyone Saturday.

State championship Saturday brings season finale action to four fields in various regions of the state:

. Class A features unbeaten East champ Hampden Academy (17-0-1) against Greely of Cumberland Center (12-4-1) at Morse High School in Bath.

. Class B involves East titlist and perennial power Ellsworth (14-1-2) and Yarmouth (14-2-1) at MBNA Field in Lincolnville.

. Class C will pit East champ Madawaska (10-6-2) against Carrabec of North Anson (14-3) at Schenck High School’s field in East Millinocket.

. Class D matches up East champion Van Buren (16-2) against Waynflete of Portland (11-2-1) at the Weatherbee School complex across from Hampden Academy.

All four games will start at 1 p.m.

When you look at the names of the teams involved in the battles for state bragging rights, you don’t find too many surprises, but that doesn’t mean some of these teams aren’t just a bit surprised to be where they are.

Despite Van Buren’s 16-2 record and long history of soccer success, the Crusaders’ march to their seventh state final appearance in head coach Steve LaPierre’s 25-year coaching tenure has been a surprise, even to LaPierre.

“It kind of surprised me because we’re relatively young with just three seniors, and we lost one of them when Dustin Cyr broke his foot during harvest break,” LaPierre said.

With four games left in the regular season, sophomore Andrew Taylor was pressed into starting duty for the first time in his career. Eight games (two of them shutouts) and eight straight wins later, he’ll be starting the most important game of his young career.

“He’s doing a nice job for us,” said LaPierre. “He’s doing exactly what he needs to do technically and he makes good decisions.”

With only two seniors on the field, LaPierre needs both production and leadership out of each of them and he gets both.

Forward Andy Martin is the team’s leading scorer with 27 goals (three in playoffs) and eight assists. Center fullback Tyler LaPierre is the team’s key defensive player.

“We knew the seniors would have to carry us. Andy attracts a lot of attention and Tyler is pretty good in the air, he controls the midfield well, and we can push him up front when we need offense,” said father and coach Steve LaPierre.

The starting lineup consists of two seniors, two sophomores, two freshman, and five juniors. Regulars off the bench are one sophomore, two juniors, and three freshmen.

Other key players are junior wing Trevor Hews, junior sweeper Tony Vallancourt, sophomore forward Dom Rossignol and – ironically – two freshmen: sweeper Jean Pierre Dumond and forward Ben Doucette.

“Defense has been our strength all season,” said the elder LaPierre. “It has to be since we’re averaging about a goal a game in the playoffs. We’re not a super fast team, but we play well together, we pass well, and we’re fundamentally solid.”

Doucette has gotten even better in the postseason with two goals in four games.

“It’s unusual to find a freshman starter, especially on defense, but he has a nose for the ball and strikes it well,” LaPierre said.

They’ll all have to strike it well against a big and fast Waynflete squad. This is the third time since 1993 Van Buren has met the Flyers in a state soccer final.