WINSLOW — The Winslow boys soccer team was a little out of sync, a little jittery and, worst of all, trailing 1-0 just eight minutes into its Eastern B quarterfinal game Wednesday against Foxcroft.
It was, coach Aaron Wolfe said, not exactly how the No. 3 Raiders hoped to start playoffs.
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“We thought it would be good to get that bye,” Wolfe said. “But that extra layoff definitely didn’t help. We didn’t come out well at all. We needed a spark.”
Sophomore forward Jimmy Fowler provided it, scoring two goals later in the half to send Winslow (12-0-3) into the regional semifinals with a gritty 2-1 victory at Kennebec Savings Bank Field.
Winslow will play at No. 2 Camden Hills (14-0-1) at 1 p.m. Saturday.
The Ponies and Raiders were tied 1-1 when Fowler scored the eventual game-winning goal with about 12 minutes left in the first half.
“It was crazy,” he said. “I haven’t scored in four or five games, so to come back and get two for the team, it just felt really good.”
No. 11 Foxcroft, which defeated Oceanside in a prelim game, finished 7-8-1. Wolfe said the Ponies were the better team early.
“Foxcroft came out and out-worked us,” Wolfe said. “I think we had some jitters and just weren’t ready.”
Julian Zepeda gave the Ponies a 1-0 lead when he beat Winslow keeper Alex Berard about seven minutes into the game.
“We took the crowd out of it, which was nice,” Foxcroft coach Luis Ayala said. “That was a key goal. It was what we needed, but we couldn’t keep Winslow down.”
Added Wolfe: “There was a ton of game left, so we weren’t nervous. It actually was good. When they scored, we received a little wake-up call. We had to play better.”
The Raiders did.
Fowler tied it midway through the half when he headed a pass from Cody Doughty over Foxcroft goalie Logan Butera.
“Doughty sent the ball in and it took a bounce,” Fowler said. “I just headed it over the keeper’s arms. It felt awesome. It was such a big goal. We needed it. It got us back in it.”
Fowler scored his second of the game a few minutes later when he redirected a shot past Butera.
“It was wide open,” Fowler said. “I ran by their (defense) just tapped it in.”
The teams traded scoring chances in the second half but the Ponies couldn’t get the equalizer.
“I had faith that our leaders would step up and they did,” Wolfe said. “We’re moving on and that’s what matters.”
Bill Stewart — 621-5640bstewart@centralmaine.com
Twitter: @billstewartkj
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