December 22, 2024
SCHOOLGIRL SOCCER

Patriots again picture perfect Bangor Christian still unbeaten with 2nd victory over Pandas

BANGOR – The Bangor Christian girls soccer team has racked up a lot of wins so far this season, but only after two of those have the Patriots gathered for a postgame team photo.

The first came after Bangor Christian beat Lee on Sept. 8.

The second time happened Thursday afternoon, when the Patriots again upended the defending Class D state champion and 5-time defending EM champion Pandas who had won 87 games in a row against Eastern Maine competition.

This time around, stopper Mandy Hall scored the game-winner in a 2-1 victory at the Bangor Christian field. It was a bit closer than last month’s 4-2 win, but no less satisfying for the 11-0 Patriots.

“The pressure was on us to stay undefeated,” said Christin Pelletier, a junior center midfielder who had two assists. “They’re a great team. This win did not come easy.”

It was emotional for sweeper Adrienne Ricci, the only senior on the team.

“It’s a really big deal to me because I love all these girls so much,” she said, wiping away tears.

Lee falls to 8-2 after the intense matchup.

Hall’s goal was the first of her high school career. She kicked in a shot from just beyond the 18-yard line through defensive traffic to break a tie 1-1 tie with 27 minutes, 40 seconds remaining in the game.

“[Coach Clark Cole] always says, if you’re that close, you shoot it,” Hall said. “[Pelletier] passed it back and I put it in.”

Pelletier also logged an assist on Bangor Christian’s first goal, which was scored by Morgan Chasse. Pelletier drilled a through-ball up to the speedy Chasse, who beat a defender on the left side and kicked the ball into the far corner of the net.

“I’m always looking for her because she’s got an amazing cross,” Pelletier said. “I try to get it up to either wing because Katherine Bragg does, too. My goal is to get it up the sides so they can bring it back to the middle.”

Aside from scoring the game-winner, Hall also had the job of marking up Lee standout Aarika Ritchie, who didn’t score in either matchup.

“I had to stay with her, contain and not reach,” Hall said. “If you reach on her, she’s gone. You have to contain her.”

Lee’s Amanda Gifford tied the game with 10:16 left in the first half when she turned on a ball during a scramble in front of the goal.

The Pandas hit the posts and crossbar a number of times but were unable to get anything else past Bangor Christian goalie Moriah Bach, who made 11 saves on 15 shots.

“When you’re striking the ball you’re not trying to aim for the post, and when it hits it four times and the goal line once, that’s going to mess with your head,” said Lee coach Stephanie Thurlow, who is in her first season with the Pandas.

Lee’s Karin Bird stopped four of 10 shots.

Hall’s goal was scored while Gifford, a 2005 Maine Soccer Coaches Association regional all-star, was on the sidelines after she received a yellow card for encroachment on a Bangor Christian free kick.


Have feedback? Want to know more? Send us ideas for follow-up stories.

comments for this post are closed

You may also like