Maine Sting seeking first win

The Maine Sting will be looking for its first National Premier Soccer League victory while the Maine Tide women will try to win their third straight Women’s Premier League game this weekend.

The Sting, 0-1-1, will entertain the 1-3-1 Queen City Football Club (N.Y.) Saturday at 2 p.m. to initiate a string of eight games in three weeks. The 2-3 Tide will travel to New Britain, Conn., to take on league leader Soccer Plus, 6-0 entering a Friday night game, Sunday at 1.

Soccer Plus beat the Tide 2-0 in the season opener on two goals by current league scoring leader Tiffany Weimer (8 goals, 5 assists). Soccer Plus has outscored its opponents 28-1.

Bill Ashby’s Sting will switch from a 4-4-2 formation to a 3-5-2.

“We’ve got to control the midfield a little more than we did last weekend [in a 4-1 loss to Long Island],” explained Ashby.

He will make some lineup changes with former Bangor High School star and current University of New Hampshire striker Dylan George earning his first start. He played 20 minutes last weekend.

Ashby said the team will also be bolstered by the return of dominant center back Russell Kerr, who had a work commitment last weekend.

Angel Abunez will replace the injured David Stevenson (shoulder) in goal.

However, former Ellsworth High and UMaine standout Cooper Friend missed the last game to attend a wedding and hasn’t shown up since.