Rams ready to take on Storm

BANGOR – You could say it all came together over ping pong, video games, and Italian food.

The members of the Bangor boys soccer team planned to spend the night before today’s Class A state soccer championship game at a team party, something that’s become a sort of ritual for the Rams this season.

Not only have the parties been a way to relieve jitters the night before a big game, but they’ve helped a diverse group of players come together and win the program’s first Eastern Maine crown.

The 15-1-1 Rams lost 14 players from last season’s team. Instead of rebuilding, a collection of returning starters, former junior varsity and freshman team players, and four freshmen are contending for the state title against defending champion Scarborough today at 1 p.m. at Windham High School.

Leach got in touch with southern Maine coaches earlier this week to get a scouting report on the 16-0-1 Red Storm.

“We just want to make sure we’re not surprised by anything,” he said. “They’re quick, strong, very aggressive, and very skilled. I don’t think we’ll be unprepared.”

Part of that preparation has been the team dinners, which allowed the Rams to get to know each other.

“It helps, especially the night before a game,” sophomore Ryan Larochelle said. “Everybody gets really pumped and you’re with the team before the game.”

Larochelle, a fullback, is just one of last year’s JV players who is now starting or making key contributions off the bench. Starting sweeper Nate Frazier was also on the JV team. So was backup midfielder Mack Susi, who scored the overtime goal that gave Bangor the Eastern Maine title over Brunswick.

Other former JV players Devin Lincoln, a junior, and Dan Taft, a sophomore, have developed a scoring touch, which takes pressure off starters Tony Martinez (team-high 12 goals) and JoJo Hwalek (11 goals). Susi and Lincoln have each scored at least six goals this year.

Sophomore Johnny Warren, who also has around six goals, went from freshman team last year to the varsity this year.

There are also four freshmen playing varsity, including Nick George, who scored the game-winning goal against Brewer in the semifinals. It was his 11th goal of the season.

In his eight seasons coaching the Rams, Leach has only kept one other freshman – senior Matt Goodell’s older brother Nate – on the varsity.

Friday night’s team dinner was planned for the home of brothers Cam and Cody Cormier (a senior starting midfielder and a freshman backup mid, respectively). The Rams were to dine on food from Momma Baldacci’s in Bangor and just hang out.

“In the past they would have to plan it and somebody would have to organize it, figure out what everybody was bringing,” Leach said. “This team, they just go. Everything’s already in place. It’s amazing how easy this team has been.”