Alumnae wins game honoring Thompson

BANGOR – Friday’s alumnae soccer game at Bangor High School probably meant more to Kristen Thompson than anyone else on the field.

That’s because she’s the younger sister of Danielle Thompson, after whom the second annual preseason match is named. The game was won 4-3 by a group of Bangor alumnae over the 2008 varsity edition of the Rams.

“It’s so awesome that people honor her like that. She was awesome and we miss her,” said Kristen Thompson, a 2005 graduate of Bangor.

Danielle Thompson, a four-year member of Bangor’s soccer team, a 2003 graduate and captain of the 2002 squad, passed away in 2007 after a brief illness.

All proceeds from the game benefited the Danielle Marie Thompson Scholarship Fund.

Would she be proud of Friday’s extravaganza at Bangor?

“Of course she would. I’m sure she’s smiling somewhere, she’d be very happy I’m sure,” said Kristen Thompson. “All night I was thinking about her.”

The sisters were never teammates, but enjoyed playing together nonetheless.

“We were very close, just played all the time like that, kicking the ball around,” said Thompson.

As for the game, it was back-and-forth throughout, with the alumnae pulling out two goals in the final two minutes to rally from a 3-2 deficit.

Amy Hackett, a 2007 graduate, tucked a penalty shot inside the near post with 1:58 remaining, and Serena Dubois, class of 2006, blasted a rocket past Rams goalie Kortnie Hudgens from the top of the penalty area with 34 seconds to play to give the alums their first and only lead of the match.

“Lucky shot,” quipped Dubois, who put the alumnae team on the board with 15:06 to play in the first half.

She managed to win a 50-50 ball with Hudgens at the top of the penalty area when the Rams’ keeper came out too far and tucked it in to tie the match at 1.

The speedy varsity Rams had plenty of scoring chances, particularly in the first half when they recorded 15 shots on alumnae keeper Ilyse Angst, controlling the attacking third with their quickness and athleticism.

“We just needed a little time to get used to playing soccer,” said 2004 graduate Danielle Lainez. “Those girls are young, they have the age on us. They were quick. The coaching’s really good.”

In spite of the close, competitive action on the field, soccer was the least of everyone’s concerns.

“In some ways we certainly wanted to come out and play a little bit of soccer, but it was more about Danielle and the legacy she left here,” Bangor coach Joe Johnson said. “Soccer was the least of things I was worried about tonight.”

Soccer aside, Dubois was thrilled to be back.

“It’s awesome. It’s been two years for me. I miss soccer a lot,” she said. “It was a good experience.”

Kailey McKenna put the varsity Rams on the board with 24:30 left in the first half with a high, arching shot from 30 yards out.

An own goal gave the Rams a 2-1 lead after Dubois’ first goal, and alum Emily Heath tucked in a pass from Jen Towle from about 20 yards out with 4:10 to play in the first.

Meagan Doucette knocked home a direct kick with 9:45 left in the second and gave the Rams their 3-2 lead.

rmclaughlin@bangordailynews.net

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