Morgan, Li power Eagles to victory Limestone/MSSM prevails over youthful, rebuilding Hodgdon team

HODGDON – The footing was bad, but the results were just fine for the Limestone/Maine School of Science and Mathematics boys soccer team in an Eastern Maine Class C matchup against Hodgdon Monday.

Playing through periods of strong rain showers and wind, Bo Li and Dustin Morgan hooked up twice in the first half for an early lead en route to a 5-0 victory over the Hawks at the elementary school field.

It was the perfect way for Limestone to rebound from losses to two of the best high school teams in the state. The Eagles, now 3-3, dropped their last two games to defending Class D state champ Van Buren and defending Eastern Maine Class C winner Madawaska.

“We thought we needed to come out early and score,” said Morgan, a senior captain and starting midfielder. “We played two tough games before this so we wanted to come out and get a win tonight.”

Both of Li’s goals came off assists from Morgan. In the first, Morgan sent a square pass across the box to Li, who booted it in 15 minutes into the game. Li was outside the box for his second goal, which he blasted from about 25 feet.

“I ran into the box and touched the ball,” said Li, a South Berwick resident and a junior at MSSM. “He just fed me the ball. It was a nice pass.”

The Eagles had a 2-0 lead at halftime against Hodgdon backup goalie Seth Dorr, who started in place of a player who couldn’t make it to the game because he had to work. Dorr held up despite the two goals, making five saves on eight shots.

Limestone added three more goals in the second half as coach Glenn Michaud was able to make frequent substitutions. Morgan, Brad Culley and Parker Rossignol each scored.

Still, the Eagles were unable to convert on most of their shots as both teams slid on the wet field.

“The rain was a factor,” Morgan said. “You’ve got to kick the ball and have weird spin on it, and the bounces were way off-normal.”

Dorr and Chris Harvey, who played in goal in the second half, combined to make eight saves on 17 shots.

Limestone goalie Ryan Dionne stopped three of five Hodgdon shots. He made a tough save midway through the second half when Hodgdon’s Tom Duff booted a shot from 35 yards out. The ball skimmed under the crossbar but Dionne jumped up to grab the ball.

Hodgdon, which falls to 0-6, is continuing the rebuilding process after the boys soccer team was idle for two years because of low numbers. The Hawks played shorthanded in 10 games last fall, but there were three players on the bench for Monday’s game.

Coach David Day was pleased with his team’s defense.

“That’s the best we’ve played in a while,” said Day, who has guided Hodgdon through its revival. “We’ve had a problem with lunging, letting people beat us. Today it seemed like it sunk in. They seemed to be denying the player instead of lunging and letting the player get by.”

Day credits Dorr, the Hawks’ top offensive player, with helping to keep the program alive.

“He’s on the phone before the season starts and during preseason, trying to get kids to come out and get some numbers,” Day said.