MADAWASKA – The 2007 schoolboy soccer season was quite a ride – or flight – for the Madawaska Owls.

The Owls got hot at the right time and captured the Eastern Maine Class C championship before falling to Saint Dominic of Auburn in the state final.

Coach Ben Sirois club has all the right tools for another possible run this fall, and the Owls are off to an outstanding start, winning their first six games.

“Everything’s looking pretty good. It’s still early but right now the team unity’s good and everything’s going pretty nicely,” said Sirois after the Owls scored two second-half goals to defeat St. John Valley rival Wisdom of St. Agatha 4-2 Wednesday night.

Some of Sirois’ key returnees include junior striker Nathan Beaulieu, senior goalie Nathan Beaulieu (no relation) and senior midfielder Shawn Parker.

“We’ve got three leaders on the field that are getting it done for us,” Sirois said.

Striker Beaulieu and Parker certainly got the job done against the Pioneers Wednesday, combining for three goals and an assist in a game the Owls led 2-0 at one point in the first half before Wisdom struck back to tie it at halftime.

Like a lot of teams in the Valley, the Owls are very quick up front and stress fleet, crisp passing.

“We always like to utilize our quickness. We like to keep the ball on the ground and try to move it around,” said Sirois. “We’re not the type of team that likes the ball in the air too much.”

Madawaska’s defense has been lights-out this season, posting shutouts in four of their six victories with three newcomers on the back line.

Sweepers Jacques Daigle, a sophomore, and Jeff Cyr, a junior, have complemented stopper Andrew Deschaines and keeper Beaulieu very well.

“We have a very strong defense, our defense has been fantastic,” Sirois said.

So, with a formidable blend of quickness up front, in the midfield and along the back line, its tough to find a chink in the Owls’ armor.

“Every game I see a group of different guys shine, different scorers, different key guys, it’s well rounded,” said Sirois.

Madawaska should be right in the thick of things in Class C along with traditional contenders Dexter, Orono, George Stevens of Blue Hill and Valley rival Fort Kent, whom the Owls knocked off here earlier this week.

The Owls are certainly embracing the role of the team that everyone wants to knock off.

“I think that every team looks at us a little bit differently coming out,” Sirois said.

Even though they play in the northern reaches of the state, the Owls aren’t flying under many teams’ radars nowadays given their recent success.

“I can’t imagine that we do given the success we’ve had the last couple years,” said Sirois.

rmclaughlin@bangordailynews.net

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