OAKLAND — Both the Messalonskee and Cony girls soccer teams came away with something Thursday in their Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class A matchup.
Cony won 7-3 behind three goals by Emily Quirion to remain unbeaten while Messalonskee turned in one of its stronger performances of the season, particularly in the second half.
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Quirion scored twice on penalty kicks and another on a nice chip pass over the top from her sister Hayley. The senior has eight goals this season and has played a key role in Cony’s 4-0 start.
“It’s a great start,” Quirion said. “We didn’t really expect it, but we knew we going to be better than last year. We’re passing better, we’re finishing better and we have more players all around.”
Cony led 5-1 at the half on two goals from Quirion and one each from Bayleigh Logan, Paige Lamarre and Annie Brannigan. Logan scored when Olivia Deeves fed her a long through pass to the front of the net. Lamarre headed in a perfect corner kick from Hayley Quirion and Brannigan scored on a hard shot from the top of the penalty area to the left corner of the net.
“In the first half when we were doing our normal (substitution) patterns we were able to get balls over the top,” Cony coach Jeff Hersey said. “Once we got settled in we saw that was going to be a spot we could take advantage of.”
Junior Kassidi McPherson scored for the Eagles (0-4-0) in the first half, tying the game at 1 on a pretty move in which she shielded a defender and struck a ball into the right corner. The Eagles played better in the second half, getting goals from freshman McKenna Brodeur on a through pass from MollyAn Killingbeck. MacKenzie Anderson later scored on a penalty kick to cut the lead to 6-2.
“I was proud of them,” first-year coach Penny Stansfield said. “It was 5-1 at halftime and usually teams will come out flat or not believing, but we were the opposite.”
Quirion scored her third goal early in the half on another penalty kick, this time picking the right side. She’s scored on all three penalty kicks she’s taken but is reluctant to reveal her strategy.
“I can’t give my secret away,” she said.
Deeves added a goal for the Rams on a shot from 25 yards that broke through goalie Taylor Easler. Shots on goal were even in the second half at nine apiece. Easler finished with 11 saves, including two beauties against Emily Quirion while Cony’s Autumn Sudsbury turned in 11 for Cony, including a diving stop of Anderson blast to the right corner in the second half.
“We’ve played tough teams, but every game we’re getting better,” Stansfield said. “Our first win will come very soon.”
Gary Hawkins — 621-5638
ghawkins@centralmaine.com
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