Two quick goals spark Lee girls to EM crown

VAN BUREN – Dana Houghton kicked a high ball from approximately 45 yards out and scored 47 seconds into the match to get third-seeded Lee Academy off and running en route to a 4-0 victory over top-seeded Van Buren in the Eastern Maine Class D girls soccer final Friday.

Nikki Slevinsky scored 24 seconds later to put the 15-2 Pandas up 2-0.

“My goalie was expecting a big bounce, but [Slevinsky] beat her to the ball and put it in,” said Van Buren coach Jay Edgecomb.

“We fought them tooth and nail for 79 minutes after that; four-zero wasn’t a product of how hard that game was fought,” Edgecomb said.

Amanda Gifford scored unassisted goals with 56 seconds left and three seconds left in regulation. Karin Bird blocked all nine shots the Crusaders took.

“They were best team we’ve seen so far,” added Edgecomb.

Trisha Gagnon and Jennifer Ouellette combined to make 13 saves on 17 shots for 14-3 Van Buren.

Overall, Edgecomb said that he was pleased with the season.

“This was my first year coaching here,” said Edgecomb. “We had set a goal to win 10 games and have a home playoff game and we did that. Hopefully next year we can do even better.”

Class D West

Richmond 4, Greenville 0

At Richmond, Brianna Clifford and Shelby Hurley both scored a goal and provided an assist to lift No. 1 Richmond over No. 2 Greenville for the Western Maine title.

Richmond scored all four goals in the first half. The win was Richmond’s third of the season over Greenville.

Courtney Hill and Stephanie O’Brien added goals for 15-1 Richmond. Katie Cray provided two assists and Nicole Tuttle made five saves.

Lauren Fling stopped 14 shots for 12-3 Greenville.