Bangor’s run in the Class A schoolgirl soccer tournament fell short at the finish line, but the Rams are still optimistic they can reach another state championship game next year.

Although five key players started in their final game against Gorham Saturday, a 1-0 win for the Western Maine representative, a host of other starters and role players will return in 2006.

“We lose a lot of great senior leadership but the younger players know what it takes to get to this game,” Bangor coach Larry Smith said after the game. “We’ll be a strong team next year. What we accomplished this year proved that Bangor soccer can play with any team in the state.”

Bangor’s graduating players include goalie Ilyse Angst, who was a four-year starter, center midfielders Hannah Bennett and Jessie Roberts, whose 13 goals paced the Rams, sweeper Kelly White, and striker Serena Dubois, who came alive in the postseason with five goals in three regional tournament games.

Smith expects the new goalie to be Rachel Roberts, Jessie Roberts’ sister, who started all year as a wing defender. Angst started all 18 games in goal but Roberts was listed as the backup.

Other returning starters include defender Kristin Eremita, forward-midfielder Casey Hartley, forward Amy Hackett, stopper Emily Heath and midfielder Erin MacDermott.

MacDermott was a first-team all-Kennebec Valley Athletic conference honoree, while Hackett made the second team. Smith was the Coach of the Year.

Forward Courtney Stevenson and midfielder-forward Jennie Lucy both played well up front Saturday, as did midfielder Catherine LeClair, who created the eventual winning goal in the Eastern Maine final against Messalonskee of Oakland.

“We played amazing,” MacDermott said after Saturday’s state game. “I’m excited [for next year] but our seniors were amazing.”

Bird sprains shoulder

Sometimes, cousins can take horseplay a bit too far.

Lee Academy sophomore Karin Bird found that out recently when she sprained her right arm while playing a game of pickup basketball with cousin Brooke Harris in the Lee gym.

“I went up for a shot, went up to get a rebound, and she fell down and I didn’t know,” Bird said. “She took my feet out and I landed right on [the shoulder].”

It’s safe to assume it was an accident, considering that both girls play on the Lee soccer, basketball and softball teams – and they’re cousins and good friends.

Bird played the Eastern Maine Class D soccer final with her arm bent against her stomach, which made running awkward.

“I felt really off balance,” she said. “I’m not as fast, either, with one arm.”

Bird, who scored 11 points in last year’s Class D state basketball championship game, is expected to be fine in time for the upcoming season. Practice starts Nov. 21.

Sports safety training offered

HealthSouth Sports Medicine is offering the American Red Cross Sports Safety Training for Coaches course on Saturday, Nov. 19 at the HealthSouth office in Portland.

The course content includes breathing and choking emergencies, rescue breathing, cardiac emergencies, sports injury prevention, soft tissue injuries and injuries to muscles, bones and joints, and sudden illness.

The course costs $65. The registration deadline is Nov. 15.

For more information or to register, call Ursula Volkommer at 773-0871 or e-mail ursula.volkommer@healthsouth.com.

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