Prolific Rams score early to beat Witches Noonan collects second hat trick

BREWER – It’s hard to believe the Bangor boys soccer team had trouble finishing off scoring chances at the start of the season – because it’s certainly not a problem anymore.

The undefeated Rams required just 40 seconds to get on the scoreboard Tuesday evening, then cruised to a 7-0 victory over Brewer at Doyle Field.

Clark Noonan scored three goals while Luke Hetterman had a goal and an assist for coach David Patterson’s club, which is now 11-0-1 and has outscored its opposition by an astonishing 77-3.

“We started playing a different formation, and I think it’s really exploited our skills,” said senior midfielder Mack Susi. “Our strikers are getting more opportunities up top and that’s what we were lacking at first. We just weren’t finishing, but now we’re really getting everyone involved.”

Not only is Bangor averaging 6.4 goals per match this fall, but 20 different players have scored at least once and four players – Nick George, Hetterman, Philip Frost and Noonan – are in double figures.

“It’s a new guy every day, and that’s what we love about the team,” said senior midfielder Dan Taft. “It’s not just one star who takes over, we have a bunch of good, quality players, and I think that’s good for the team.”

Brewer, 5-6-2, gave Bangor a competitive battle in their earlier meeting Sept. 13 before absorbing a 3-0 loss, but the Rams scored on their first two shots on goal in the rematch.

Susi scored in the opening minute on a counterattack set up by Cody Cormier. Cormier gained possession in the center of the field, then passed it to his left just beyond teammate Johnny Warren and right to Susi, who rifled a low shot past Brewer goalie Brian Kearns and just inside the right post.

“We wanted to score early because we knew it was going to be a good game because Brewer’s been playing well,” said Susi, “and 40 seconds is pretty good.”

Taft made it 2-0 five minutes later with a blast into the wind from 35 yards out that went just inside the right post.

Noonan scored with 7:30 left in the half, taking a cross from Hetterman for a 15-yard shot into the middle of the net.

Noonan scored again just nine seconds before intermission, gaining possession near midfield and dribbling past a defender before sliding the ball inside the left post.

Noonan capped off his second hat trick of the season six minutes into the second half on the rebound of a hard shot by Brian Loiselle.

“At the beginning of the season we had a lot of trouble finishing,” said Noonan, “but now that we’re used to playing with each other we’re connecting more and more. We’ve come such a long way since the beginning of the season.”

Hetterman made it 6-0 with a sharp angle shot after taking a crossing pass from Ryan Larochelle, and George scored his team-high 14th goal with 20:26 left on an assist by Warren.

Bangor goalie Bud Angst, rarely challenged thanks to a defense featuring Nate Frazier, Zane Gray and Larochelle, stopped all four shots he faced to earn his seventh shutout of the season. Kearns made eight saves on 15 shots.

JV: 0-0