Hawks, Trojans battle to draw Regular-season finale has 2 teams seeking pointworthy win

HERMON – With precious Heal points on the line, the Hermon boys soccer team attacked early and often in its game against MDI Thursday evening.

But despite taking double the number of shots on goal than the Trojans and dominating the first half, the best that the Hawks could muster was a tie.

MDI took a first-half lead, Hermon responded in the second, and no one scored from there as the teams ended at 1-1 in double overtime at the Greater Hermon Community Athletic Complex field.

It was the final regular-season game for both teams.

The Hawks were gunning for a win, considering MDI’s point-worthy victory over Ellsworth Tuesday and the fact that the Trojans were ranked eighth, one slot ahead of Hermon, in the most recent standings. Instead, the Hawks go to 6-6-2.

“We really wanted a win to move us into seventh or sixth,” said Hermon senior forward Ryan Tarr. “It was a big game for us. A tie can do a lot for us, though.”

MDI, now 6-5-3, would have also liked a win considering that Hermon beat MDI 3-1 on Sept. 15.

“We didn’t play 90 minutes of soccer,” Blandford said. “We could have. This wasn’t nearly how we played against Ellsworth. One breakdown in defense and they get a goal. It was a close game and they’re a good team.”

The Hawks maintained control in the midfield for much of the first half, outshooting MDI 10-4, taking five corner kicks to none for MDI, and winning most of the 50-50 balls.

“That’s why we dominated in the middle,” said Joe Carmichael, Hermon’s senior center midfielder. “We got every ball and distributed from there.”

But the Trojans struck first, when junior varsity swing player Welly Bacon scored with a kick from the left corner off a pass from Dan Wardman with 7 minutes, 16 seconds left in the first half.

Tarr responded about 41/2 minutes into the second half. Joey Sabo passed the ball ahead to Tarr, who played it off his right leg in order to push it into the goal. Blandford came out at Tarr, who poked the ball by the goalie. Blandford tipped it in while trying to make the save.

The next time Blandford got a hand on a shot, it was a Tarr header that started with a corner kick taken by Carmichael late in regulation. That time, Blandford tipped the ball out of danger.

“I got just enough on that so it tipped on the post,” Blandford said.

MDI’s Eric St. Denis marked Tarr for most of the game.

Carmichael had an open shot in the second overtime but booted the ball over the goal.

The Hawks outshot the Trojans 23-10 overall – almost the same margin as a 2-2 tie against Foxcroft Tuesday.

“It was better today, but that’s been our big difficulty, getting the balls into the goal,” Tarr said. “We put the balls through well, but we can’t finish. But we’re working on it, and we’ll bring it strong for playoffs.”