Their schools are barely 15 miles apart, yet the Hall-Dale and Maranacook boys soccer teams haven’t played a regular season game since the days of the old Mid-Maine Confrence more than 20 years ago, let alone met in the playoffs. That changes today as the two unbeatens square off in Farmingdale for the Western Maine Class C regional championship.

In a pair of Western Maine Class D regional finals today, the Richmond boys and girls each are at home, the boys hosting Greenville and girls meeting Buckfield.

Until this season, Maranacook (14-0-2) played in Class B and although the Black Bears dropped to Class C due to declining enrollment, they maintained their Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class B schedule.

“I think they’re just a solid team technically,” Hall-Dale coach Andy Haskell said. “They’re very tenacious and aggressive. Any time you play a Donnie Beckwith-coached team you know they’re going to play hard for 80 minutes.”

Hall-Dale (16-0-0) graduated nine starters from last year’s regional championship team but retooled quickly.

“They’re pretty organized defensively,” Beckwith said. “Against good teams they just counter punch really well.”

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While goal-scoring for the Black Bears is spread among several players, the Bulldogs have relied primarily on senior Konnor Longfellow (35 goals) and junior Nat Crocker. Haskell said controlling the tempo will be a key for his team.

“We just don’t want to get into a track meet with them,” he said.

Both goalies — Maranacook senior Brad Worster and Hall-Dale junior Brian Allen — are first-year starters.

“I think the goalies could be a big part of what’s going to happen,” Beckwith said.

The Richmond girls are the three-time defending Class D state champions and are poised to play for a fourth despite graduating several scorers from last year’s team.

“Some different kids have stepped up and done a good job,” Richmond coach Troy Kendrick said. “These girls have carved out their own identity this year.”

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Kelsie Anair and Amber Loon each have 23 goals for the Bobcats while Meranda Martin has 14. Richmond (15-1-0) played Buckfield twice this season, winning 3-0 and 3-2. The key, Kendrick said, is maintaining possession and matching the Bucks’ effort.

“They’re a very athletic team’ he said.”They’re going to try to out-work us.”

The Richmond boys (12-2-2) beat Grenville 3-0 at home and tied the Lakers 0-0 in Greenville. Richmond coach Joe Scribellito said the key for his team is “basically not to get caught up in their game, maintain possession and keep the ball on the ground. They will counter very quickly. It’s those counters that are very dangerous.”

Nate and Cody Tribbet led the Bobcats in scoring during the regular season with 15 and 10 goals, respectively. Richmond has played well defensively, especially in the latter part of the season.

“I think we’re playing extremely well right now,” Scribellito said. “Coming off a couple of good wins, it really helps our confidence.”

Gary Hawkins — 621-5638ghawkins@centralmaine.comTwitter: @GaryHawkinsKJ


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